the pattyo

***Pictures

Miss K has posted all her pictures now. Go here to begin.

***Energy

I was going to exercise after picking Jameson up from school; he was off early today due to testing. But I got home, and Jameson put on “LIar, Liar” (since there’s no homework this week and I’m a pushover I gave him permission to do this even though we have that rule about no TV on school days) and then, well, I heard these little voices saying “Pick me! Pick me!” and I opened up the cupboard and it was the Tostitos calling.

Now I can’t just ignore that, can I? They were, after all, calling me.

So I began to watch the movie with Jameson … and somehow he wound up leaving and I wound up watching and snacking and when all was said and done I found I had absolutely no energy. So I didn’t go to AVAC and now the guilt creeps in. (sigh)

Tomorrow. I will go tomorrow. I will.

***Graduation

Brandon graduates this year. This is simply amazing don’t you think? Not that I didn’t think he would make it through college … but that it’s already his fourth year! He graduates from UCLA on June 19th. Wow. We need to start thinking about how we are going to work out attending his graduation and Kelsey’s move back home, since she has to be out of the dorm on June 19th.

***Miscellaneous Thoughts

The word badminton is very odd.

I can’t stand it when cigarette smokers think the world is their ashtray. Is it that difficult to find a place to throw the butts away?

If someone begins by saying “I really shouldn’t tell you this” I think … well … he or she should stop right there. (But I’ve never had the nerve to say “Okay … so don’t!” and I probably should.)

I can’t figure out why anyone wants to eat an artichoke. The name is odd, the FOOD is weird. And whoever figured out how to eat them in the first place must have been very, very hungry.

It’s 3-1, Florida right now. The Giants are sure struggling this year. Too bad.

Oh … it’s 3-2 now. C’mon Giants!

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***It’s 12:49 AM
… and Jameson is home! More pictures have been posted at the site, but there will still be more to come!

And I’m tired.
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***Update

No, nothing at the Lincoln High site yet, but in case you are wondering what the students are up today, here’s what’s on the schedule:

8:30AM Depart for Arlington Cemetary.

8:45AM Arrive Arlington Cemetary; John F. Kennedy’s grave site, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington House.

10:30AM Depart for Jefferson Memorial.

10:45AM Arrive and set up for performance.

11:15AM Jazz band and Jazz choirs perform (Jameson is in Jazz band).

Afteroon: Transfer to the National Archives; home of Declaration of Independence, Constitiution, Bill of Rights, and more.

6:00PM Depart for Southwest Water Front DC (Pier 4), along the Washington Channel.

7:30PM Depart on an Evening Farewell Dinner Cruise; dinner, music, views along the Potomac River.

10:00PM Return to dock and go back to hotel.

What a day, eh?!

***No News

I guess Miss K must be awfully busy … she’s not been able to post anything about yesterday, nor has she updated pictures. But I keep checking … just in case! If the site has any new news, you can bet you’ll read about it here!

***Beyond and More

So I went to one of my favorite sites, Beyond.com (Subscribe to the mag! You’ll be glad you did.) and after enjoying Karen’s thoughts I race on over to read more of what she has to say at One House which, in turn, causes me to visit Jane Siberry’s site. I then go to hear some of her new CD, and, lo and behold, “How Beautiful are the Feet” (yes, the Handel tune) begins with some lovely oboe! Yay oboe! And Yay Jane, for using real oboe rather than some sample.

I’d buy the CD, but I’m going to have to wait. Finances. (sigh)

I haven’t “figured” Jane out, but I guess that’s okay. I doubt anyone has ever really figured me out either. Maybe that’s not our assignment while on this planet.
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***The Tour

If anyone is interested in reading the Lincoln High Tour Diary just click here. Miss K (a vocal teacher at LHS) posts information … and she has a link to pictures too!

***Baseball?

Gee … what’s up with “my” team? Something must be awry. C’mon Giants! Wake up! Win!
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***Update

The plane landed in DC at 6:00. So they are on the ground. At 7:30 they are supposed to have a short tour of Washington DC, they arrive at the hotel at 8:00, and they go to The Daily Grill at 8:30 for dinner (yes, the entire crew … and that’s a lot of people!)

***And He’s Off!

We drove up to SFO this morning … FAR too early. Jameson is on his way to DC! Am I jealous? Moi? Of course … um … not. So what if I’ve never gotten to DC? So what if I have to stay home. And work. Really. Sure. I’m okay with it.

Anyway, the Lincoln High School music department has landed in Chicago (I was following the flight online), and in about 30 minutes they board another plane that takes them to Washington National Airport.

Lucky ducks.
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***More Fun with Arcata

I just can’t help myself! It’s so much fun to read these entries. For instance, here’s one:

Sunday, July 6 12:43 a.m.
His brain, deeply alcohol-dunked
Rendered one Plaza guy so defunct
That some medics went there
Scraped him off from the square
To a clean, well-lit place for the drunk.

But that’s old (2003), so for a more recent day read this non-poetry (otherwise known as prose):

Wednesday, March 17 9:03 a.m. Mix ingenuity and determination with no small measure of courage and you have the daring overnight heist of a child’s scooter from the front of an Alliance Road home.

9:10 a.m. Driving around by the police station with expired plates and a license to match somehow backfired on another alleged scofflaw.

10:47 – 10:52 a.m. Fifth Street, 10th Street – no matter. Drive dumbass and the cops’ll catch you and you‚ll pay, oh, how you’ll pay – fines, insurance rates, self-loathing, social ostracism.

12:25 p.m. A vehicle drove up on a 15th Street sidewalk and persons inside demanded that a passerby surrender money. He didn’t and when the suspects drove away, the man’s shirt was torn.

1:29 p.m. Alleged harassment of a Bayside Road resident continued.

1:42 p.m. A “full-size beef bull” ran loose on the freeway north of Giuntoli Lane. A veterinarian gained control of the rampaging meat with tranquilizers.

Now aren’t those FUN?!

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***Fun Reading

Go here to read the Arcata Police Archives. These writers have far too much time on their hands!

***Wasted Money?

… well, I’m still not sure. I had to buy new headphones, since my little ones I use with my iPod died. Impatient as I am, I went to the Apple Store and purchased the ones they sell there for a whopping $39.00. Now I’m not sure I like them! They seem a bit tinny to me. I’m also going to have to fool around with the fit — they keep falling out! But I’m probably doing something wrong. They do have a one year warranty though. So even if I decide I hate them I can replace them if they break.

Hmmm. Right.
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***But I Want the Prize!

Boo hoo. McDonald’s is going to offer adult Happy Meals. But no prize.

Isn’t that heart breaking?

Or not.

But seriously, I guess they are trying to look like they are offering healthier meals.

I gotta tell you — I very rarely go to McD’s, but when I do it’s NOT for any health reason at all. It’s for those greasy french fries. I get my fill and don’t “need” to go back for months (years?)!

***Taxes

Well, they’re filed. It’s over. We’re poorer. Such is life.

Now I can relax until next year. Yay!

Hmmm … a tax poem. I need a tax poem:

New Tax Name

Let’s rename taxes, don’t you think?
I think the name should really stink.
I know a good alternative!
I’ll call it Money Laxative,
for paying taxes was a pain;
my money’s flushed right down the drain!

Okay. ENOUGH of that! I’m not seriously thinking we shouldn’t pay taxes; certainly they are necessary. I just needed to write an exquisite poem I guess. ;-)
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***The Commercialism of the Christ

Okay, okay, I know I’m sounding harsh here, but there ya go.

Everywhere I go I see things I can buy, now that Mel’s movie has made such a big splash. I see huge banners up at churches (or I did right before Easter) saying that I should attend that church to better understand The Passion of the Christ. I see the soundtrack everywhere. (I have a question for those who’ve seen the movie and now buy the soundtrack: do you see the torture as you listen? When my kids buy soundtracks they often describe what is going on while the music plays.) You can buy a poster. Cups. Jewelry. “Witness tools”. Plaques with the actor hanging on the cross. Keyrings. Zipper pulls. Books.

The movie itself has made more money than I can even imagine.

I know a lot of people aren’t bothered by all of this. I am.

What can I say?

Now some Christians I know are saying that the Passion is simply a great witness tool, and that it’s great to “reach people for Christ” and I wonder … was this the problem for the past couple thousand years? Was God just powerless before this violent movie? And of course you know what I think. (I’m so transparent, aren’t I?)

I’m sorry if I’m offending some folks here. (My two readers?!) But I’m so weary of Christian Commercialism. I can’t even go into Berean bookstore anymore. When I get the ads for CBD (Christian Book Distributors) I toss it before I toss something else. (Like my cookies. Get it? That was clever. Or not.)

I wonder if Jesus would like to toss some of the junk and perhaps turn over some tables.

***Other Hesitant Christians

But I’m not alone (I keep repeating this to myself over and over). I was pleased to read that others are concerned about what this movie “means”. This thoughtful article doesn’t dismiss the movie, but it does express concerns that I believe are valid.

And then there’s this:

As I observed the reactions of Christians to the film, be it in the press or around me, my reactions ran the gamut from apathetic to amused (I find it somewhat ironic that, while Christians denounce violence in movies as a general rule, they’re practically using this film’s violence as a selling point), from skeptical to annoyed.

This is the new “safe” movie for Christians to enjoy, to trumpet, to claim as our own. I’m not sure what the last one was, maybe “The Omega Code” or “Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie”, but “The Passion” is the “safe” movie for 2004. And the Church will flock to it in droves, watch it, feel affirmed, and completely ignore the other movies (not to mention CDs, books, etc.) that have been released with powerful and valid stories – stories that need to be discerned, discussed, and affirmed. (Jeffrey Overstreet, one of my favorite critics, discusses this in this beautifully-worded letter.)

But we don’t have time for them. We’ve got “The Passion”, along with little cottage industry that has sprung up around it, with inspirational books, CDs, and jewelry. And from this stronghold, we can reach out to the heathen, liberal masses around us and make them realize their need for Christ.

But contrary to what Christians seem to be saying, I’m somewhat skeptical that this will be a great outreach tool, at least directly. While it’s certain to increase people’s curiosity and open avenues that way, Gibson is preaching to the choir with this movie – which makes sense when you realize that he made this movie as a personal statement. The movie assumes that you know an awful lot about Christ to begin with – a few flashbacks aside, you’re not given much backstory or history of Christ and His ministry. The film feels more like a snapshot of one specific instant in history, but with little context provided for the non-Christian moviegoer.

For example, the violence in this film has little deeper meaning unless you have some knowledge of the real, theological need for Christ’s atonement and sacrifice. If you do, then great – this film could very well inspire and move you. But if you don’t, then this film will either disgust you – or you’ll have found the first great Bible splatter film (“The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre”, as it were).

Click here to read the complete article.

And I still won’t see the movie. I won’t see Kill Bill either. Or The Deer Hunter. Or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I don’t pay to see violence. Period.

—–

that holds these tired bones

is not our only home,
and yet we love to lie
on fresh cut grass to watch
the sky stories, or run
through sprinkler rain
and later rest on wet cement.

Breathe long and deep, inhale
the warmth. Look to the blue
above and taste the beauty
of cloud weavings.
With open arms we embrace
our Creator’s painting.
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