My first style board

So, I have been waiting to use this application for some time now. I have seen it "advertised" on a lot of blogs and have seen so many style boards, so I was anxious to try it for myself. And I just to happen to be in a wedding-loving mood because my sweet friend just got engaged.

So, here is my first style board. I love the purple pentone color called currant. However, I am not entirely satisfied with the green I found. I would prefer a green with more yellow tones rather than this blue-toned green. Oh well. I suppose there will be other boards.

The inspiration for this style board is hellebores (Lenten roses) although I could not manage to find any hellebores pictures that the style board website would let me add. Bummer. But I still tried to use the colors of the beautiful hellebores orientalis.

Disclaimer: I am not a designer; I just thought it would be fun to pretend.

Poem of the Week XXXII

Hopefully not too cliche, but chosen mostly because it's appropriate for this moment.

The Road not taken

Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Amazon book addiction

I might be addicted to amazon.com.

I just love how I can sit on my bed and order gobs and gobs of books with a few clicks.

This had led to some pretty bad things. I have ordered an excessive amount of books online. I just love them. I love coming home, opening up the package, and diving into my new book.

I just ordered John Stone's In the Country of Hearts. Yes, John Stone is currently my poet obsession, and I just couldn't resist the book after reading a couple editorial reviews. It's not poetry, but rather a narrative account of his experiences as a physician. And, come on, this has to count as "nursing research" because of the subject matter. I am sure I will learn many things, and really enjoy reading this book.

I'll let you know when I get it and start reading!

Valentine's Day (the movie, not a critique on the holiday but a critique nonetheless)

So, the other night dear Prudence, Allison, and I went to the movies. We decided to see the star-packed film Valentine's Day. What an interesting movie it turned out to be!

I am not kidding or exaggerating when I say the film was star-packed. Please consider the following facts (in alphabetical order): Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane (McSteamy from Grey's), Patrick Dempsey (McDreamy from Grey's), Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx (who plays a character named Kelvin, yes, Kelvin), Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Roberts, Julia Robert, and Taylor Swift.

Seriously, this movie was a bit Twilight meets Seventh Heaven meets a mexican version of Dreamgirls meets the entire cast of Grey's only to get Punk'd. Note: if you understood any or all of those references you are clearly a freak and watch too much television and far too many movies.

With a cast that large there are bound to be a million connections between the actors. Let's just say, Valentine's Day did not disappoint. Dane and Dempsey are in Grey's Anatomy together. Roberts and Roberts are related. Grace and Kutcher were in That 70's Show together. Cooper appeared in 46 of the 105 episodes of ABC's Alias with Garner. The two Taylors were dating in real life at some point, probably because of their obnoxious high school make-out scenes in the film. It's all really kind of sick.

Something I wish I had seen before I saw the film was this comment on IMDb:

If you loved 'Love Actually' do NOT see Valentine's Day.

May it also be noted that the reviewer who posted that comment also described the cast as, "stars and starlets." haha. IMDb users rated the film a 5.7 out of 10. I'm all for being generous, but 5.7 might be pushing it a bit.

I mean, to be fair, it wasn't the worst movie I have ever seen, but it just wasn't great. I did really enjoy the company and the break from my usual weekly routine, oh yeah, and the popcorn, but the movie itself was really disappointing.

A lot of the romances in the movie seem really forced or just plain awkward. I think one of the consequences of having so many characters and "plots" is the lack of real character and plot development. I mean, I fall for characters in movies really easily, but I think afterwards I realized I hadn't really been given a lot to connect to. So perhaps for someone less movie-promiscuous the film would have left much to be desired.

Speaking of promiscuous and awkward, this movie talked a lot about sex. There wasn't a whole lot of actually having sex, but it certainly was talked about a lot. One teenage couple in the movie even plans their "first time" for their high school lunch break on VD. And while we're abbrev'ing things, let's mention an interesting fact. VD stands for both Valentine's Day and Venereal Disease (haha). Coincidence? I think not.

There were funny moments in Valentine's Day, I will admit. The characters seemed to constantly be making references to their lives as actors. For example, Taylor Lautner, who plays this character in Twilight, says, when prompted by his airhead girlfriend to put on his valentine's day present, that he feels uncomfortable taking his shirt of in public. That was pretty funny. Taylor Swift's character practically quotes her "I'm not the cheerleader type" songs every other minute in the movie.

Some interesting things were a good-guy/bad-guy role reversals. Patrick Dempsey, who nearly always plays the good-guy, was just the opposite. Now, on the other hand, Bradley Cooper, who has played the bad-guy in countless films, is perfectly charming and downright chivalrous, but still manages to break my heart a little bit. Ashton Kutcher's character is completely sweet--a hopeless romantic who happens to be a plant lover.

Overall, the film was not that great. It's probably worth seeing (on DVD) just to watch the train wreck of stars. In contrast, the time I spent with my girls, Prudence and Allison, was awesome. Oh, yeah, and don't forget, the popcorn...

New Blog Template.

So, I finally decided on a new blog template. And I am not sure how I like it. I think it still needs some tweaking. Please be patient with me.

Have a Listen 4.0

So, today I am actually seeing the morning! It's awesome, and so is this song that I am currently listening to while looking for A NEW BLOG TEMPLATE. I'm nervous, let's be honest. Choosing a blog template is a big deal for the indecisive.

The video is sort of interesting, but you can just minimize it in your browser if you prefer, as long as you have a listen.

Poem of the Week XXXI

More John Stone:

Love Poem for a Son

John Stone

I begin with you,

not red and wailing,

but small and round

in the upper tube,

where X met Y and multiplied,

in the soft cave of the uterus

where you caught and hung;

when notochord was spinal cord

and gut was gut forever;

when eyes were large,

as they still are;

and the heart was gathering

blood like flowers;

and what you started with

had to do.

You curled and uncurled

before the first breath

of anything but fluid,

and the thump of the mother

heart gave motion and all magic,

till you moved out like a little boat,

and came to me, red and weeping,

as even now you sometimes do.

I end with you.

HESI-Pass

I just passed my HESI.

I may or may not have been severely tachycardic during the last 10-15 minutes. Luckily, it was sinus tachycardia not ventricular tachycardia so there was no reason to resuscitate me in the computer lab.

I am done. Essentially, by passing this test I just graduated. It feels pretty good.

All glory to God!

HESI-Tomorrow

Telling people about my HESI test brings up a bit of a pride issue for me. Especially since I failed the first time. But, whatever...

Tomorrow morning at 8 AM I will make my second attempt at passing my HESI.

Please pray that I can bring glory to God by passing!

"On the Wings of the Morning..."

"...hope is rising."

I went to the St. Michael's Didache group (Adult education class) this morning after Mass. There was a coffee and donut social so I figured I might as well stick around and learn something. Today's topic was the papal encyclical Caritas in Veritate. The encyclical addresses many issues including morality in economic life, global development, personal human development, and progress toward the common good of all peoples. Many interesting and puzzling things were said.

Our discussion really solidified a lot of things I've been thinking about lately. Really, it made especially apparent how the Lord is truly after my heart for hope. "Hope" happened to be the leftover family group name last summer when all the Pan y Vino family group leaders had chosen their names. Hope has reigned in my life ever since.

This morning in Didache I was faced with the overwhelming pessimism and despair that have paralyzed generations. At the beginning of our discussion an older gentlemen posed that the whole room would admit that there is no solution, no peace, no hope for the economic and social problems our world faces.

I thought about what little hope the existing generations have for us, the future of the world. I was reminded of an incredible Caedmon's Call song "Wings of the Morning." Particularly I thought of this verse:

The ads and billboards rained in every language
The message every politician knows
When we're fed that we are nothing we'll believe it
And then do what we are told

How interesting that poverty has spread like a pandemic across the world. How interesting that our local, national, and global economies are failing. Why does it seem that even in our churches we cannot escape the feeling that we are nothing. How do we treat our future generations?

One third of my generation was destroyed without thought before they saw the light of day or took their first breath of air. One in every three children was denied the first inalienable right. How can there be liberty or the pursuit of happiness if life is denied? For every two young people that sit in my classes, walk on campus, live in the dorms, there is one missing. Are we just a "bunch of cells" with the "potential" for life?

When we're fed that we are nothing we'll believe it
And then do what we are told

So, if you happen to be a "two thirds" who made it you are still plagued by the lies that you are nothing. You know the arguments against teaching abstinence in schools. Proponents of a "comprehensive" sex education program say that young people cannot possibly control their bodies so they need birth control in order to protect themselves. We tell them that they are too stupid, too fickle, too ruled by their lust to be able to make the decision to say no to sex. This is just one example.

When we're fed that we are nothing we'll believe it
And then do what we are told

The same is true for us. It is our responsibility to pick up the pieces and heal our hurting world. It is up to me and my peers to believe we can change things, to believe that hope lies in us. It is up to us to teach our children that they are capable of more that the world tells them they can achieve. It is up to us to not lose hope in the future. When this generation tells me there is no solution to the problems we face, no hope for the future this is what I hear: "You are nothing."

But, Caedmon's Call continues:

The spark of the divine
I see it in your eyes
It's there behind the lies that tie you down

I say to the existing generations--Don't you see it in our eyes? The spark of the Divine? You may not believe in us, but do you believe in Him? He's there, Our God, and all hope. When the existing adults and leaders die what will they have left behind? Generations who believe they are nothing?

Or will they sing, as we, the young people, do?

On the wings of the morning
Hope is rising
In the darkest night
Your love and light prevail

For indeed, there is hope in the words we pray, "Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..." Hope is not light-years away. It's inside of me, and inside of this 2/3rds generation that is struggling to stay afloat with the lack of hope the older generations have in us. If they do not, there is One who hopes in us. And so,

We will rise on the wings of the morning
Though we hide, hide in the shadows of the night
There is hope, hope in the hands that have made us
And are holding us tight...

Poem of the Week XXX

As promised, John Stone:

finis

John Stone

All that needed saying has been said.

The world implodes in silence in its shell.

The tree grows dying and the seed is fed.

The fall is filling out the year in red

while water freezes in the open well.

All that needed saying has been said.

The leaves drop spinning from a spider thread.

The spider stops its spinning in a spell.

The tree grows dying and the seed is fed.

The plunging horses know what lies ahead;

the spokes are turning faster than the wheel.

All that needed saying has been said.

We set the hands and we begin to dread

the grinning clock-face and the private hell.

The tree grows dying and the seed is fed.

The heart learns truth more slowly than the head,

yet in your eyes I knew and I could tell

all that needed saying has been said.

The tree grows dying and the seed is fed.

SNOWING.

It's snowing. In Auburn.

And I'm here.

Not in a plane on my way to Indianapolis.

But GOD IS GOOD.

Have a Listen 3.0

Favorite Nickel Creek song. Entirely bizarre video. Love it.

Have a Listen 2.0

In a more mellow mood today.

All the songs on the Pride & Prejudice (2005) soundtrack are amazing but, I'm currently listening to:

Poem of the Week XXIX

The More Loving One

W. H. Auden

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.

How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.

Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.

Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.

Favorite Commercial. Ever.

I love this commercial. I thought of it because I am going to a wedding today. I do hope that this doesn't happen today, and I don't think it will. Still, I love the suspense and the look on her face when she finally sees him at the end of the aisle.

Poet Obsession - John Stone

I am currently crazy about physician-poet John Stone. He is incredible. I will definitely be posting many of his poems soon.

They are pretty modern, which is slightly unusual for me, but I love the use of medical imagery to convey his message and really cut at my heart.

I recently checked out 5 of his poetry books from the AU Library. I've read one so far, and I couldn't put it down, seriously. I'll let you know how the rest go and share some of my favorites as we go along.

*If you happen to see me in person and want to challenge me, ask me to recite the John Stone poem (my favorite John Stone poem) that I am working on and hopefully will have memorized.

Have a Listen 1.0

I love this song. I have listened to it a million times in my car lately. It has a Christmas title and comes from a Christmas album, but I can (and do) listen to it any time of the year. The song is called "Star of Wonder," by Sufjan Stevens.

Have a Listen:

Also, if you dare, check out this pretty cool REMIX.

30-Day Shred (Day 3)

So, my roommate and I have been doing this "30-day Shred" workout. It is quite the adventure. Here are just a few reasons why:

1. The DVD workout is hosted by Jillian Michaels from NBC's The Biggest Loser. This woman is crazy.

2. The video is called the "30-day Shred". At the end of the 20 minute beginner's workout Jillian says, "Now you're on your way to being SHREDDED!" Seriously.

3. This is essentially what it's like every day. Jillian comes into our living room and does this to me:

(I'm on the left. Jillian is on the right).

4. I haven't worked out since high school. I wasn't very good at it then, and let's just say, not a lot has changed.

5. The things she says are ridiculous. For example:

-"Now if you're looking for a modified version of a jumping jack, keep looking. I have clients that are 400 pounds that can do a jumping jack. So can you."

-Near the end of the workout, right when I want to punch the television she says, "Now I bet you just want to turn off this DVD right now, but push through. Don't quit. When it hurts, that's when it counts the most."

-Finally, when we're doing crunches she says, "Now you're feeling that little knot in your stomach. That's your muscles tightening. That's fear leaving your body."

6. It's day three, so t's still pretty funny, not too miserable yet.

7. Jenn is shredded already. I'm not sure why she's doing this workout. Still, it's fun to have someone to work out with.