Currently Listening The Best of Van Morrison By Van Morrison see related

Yes, we're wearing the same shirt. No, we didn't plan it.

Do you have a twin?  Do you have a sibling close in age?  Do you have a parent that has little imagination?  You may relate to this entry then. 

This is how it goes. 

Setting:  Christmas 1983-2005 (take your pick of which year)

Elizabeth:  La de da.. going over to the tree...finding a gift.. la de da.. oh here this one in the nice shirt-shaped box looks good.  I'll open this next.

Mom:  Oh.. I think there's one like that that says Julie.. yeah over there.. yeah she needs to open it at the same time.

Elizabeth & Julie (Simultaneously open gifts)

Elizabeth:  Thanks mom and dad! I love the purple sweater/pajamas/purse/hat/scarf/mittens/etc.

Julie:  Thanks mom and dad.. I love the pink sweater/pajamas/purse/hat/scarf/mittens/etc.

*Repeat this same scenario for every Christmas for our entire lives!

So recently my sister and I have brought this to my mom's attention.. making fun of the fact that we always get the same things in different colors.  Side note:  Mom gives the best gives in the world and knows exactly what is in style.. no scary reindeer sweaters or the such.  It's just.. we like to make fun. 

Now since this.. mom has been so nice to point out.. that if Julie and I don't receive the same gift from her, we go out and buy the same thing for ourselves.  Case in point: the picture above.  Julie and I decided to show up to our aunt's house in the same sweater.  Yep.  Well great minds think alike, and dress alike I guess.

That's all.

Currently Listening Hopes and Fears By Keane see related

Thanks

For the sun

and everything under it.

For the sea

and everything above it.

For the stars

and everything beyond them.

For the wind

and wherever you let it take me.

For this day

and the bread you've provided in it.

For beauty

and the eyes to see it with.

For love

the capacity to feel it

and opportunities show it.

For words

which will never fully express.

Thank you

for the Son.

Most Beautiful

You're beautiful.

The way your eyes shine when you get excited about something.

The way your entire body laughs when you think something is funny.

The way your smile can't help but make everyone around you smile too.

But you're most beautiful

when everything on the outside becomes invisible

and the light that is within

the light that made you

is all I can see.

Currently Reading Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire By Brian J. Walsh, Sylvia C. Keesmaat see related

Global Consumerism + Christmas = Christmas in November, December, January....

Now folks, please don't get me wrong, I love Christmas.  I love all it's supposed to stand for.  The birth of Christ most importantly, I also enjoy spending time with family, giving and receiving thoughtful gifts, going to candlelight Christmas Eve services, and Harry Belafonte music.

I just have a serious problem with the need to celebrate it for 3 months out of the year.  The City of Milwaukee has completely eliminated Thanksgiving, by hanging the Christmas (or I suppose they would say "Holiday") wreaths up at the very beginning of November.  What I truly believe this is, is a tactic to get everyone thinking about buying Christmas gifts.  People drive/walk/run/bike down the streets and see the wreaths and think, "crap is it already that time.. I'd better quick go get some gifts!" And then, they go to the mall, where Santa's elves are most certainly setting up the North Pole, or into a department store filled to the max with dangling oversized ornaments.  They see all the glitz and glitter and get mesmerized into buying more. 

I guess my real point in all of this is to say..

Dear people who put up Christmas wreaths in November and don't take them down until March,  

If you are doing this to spread Christmas cheer to all, and to remind us all to celebrate Christ's love all year long, then great!  I'm behind you.  But if you're doing this because you really have a consumerist-buy-buy-and-buy-more attitude about the holiday season, then please, wait and hang up the wreaths in December. 

Thanks.

P.S.  I don't think I will take the time to talk about what I think about radio stations that play non-stop Christmas music, when we all know that there are only 5 actual Christmas songs that are just remade by every popstar and their brother. 

Currently Listening Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits By Carly Simon see related

Well folks, it's that time of year again.  So I thought I'd create this years version of last years smash hit:  "Elizabeth's Ongoing List of Scary Things".  It will look similar, because let's face it, some things will always scare me.  Some things have been bumped from the list.. and replaced with even scarier things.  I've also taken into consideration some of  last comments from last year's readers.  So here it goes...

Elizabeth's Ongoing List of Scary Things

1.  Carrot Top

2.  The Six Flags Spokesman

3.  Human-Sized Poodles

4.  Poodles with see-through white fur & pink skin

5.  Clowns

6.  Centipedes

7.  Richard Simmons

8.  People who like Pugs

9.  Pugs

10.  Any CSI morgue scene

11.  ?