Random Thoughts

Now that we have Netflix (why did I wait so long?) we have been watching a lot of movies. I love getting the email that says they've mailed another one. It's like some type of great announcement: For Saturday- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! Ta Dah!

We've seen, in addition to the one's I've already mentioned, Million Dollar Baby, Dear Frankie, The Corpse Bride and Crash which brings me to a point. My Sooner Children both told me that Million Dollar Baby and Crash were great movies but very depressing. I hesitated watching them because I wanted to be sure I was in the right frame of mind to 'enjoy' despair. I dutifully prepared my sweet husband - my beloved pessimist. But, both flicks were incredibly hopeful movies - not just in my infernally optimistic world, but my husband's as well. Real, yes, but full of the promise of something different, something better. And, like all the movies I truly love, both were challenging on a completely different level than than typical drivil put out by Hollywood these days.

In my humble opinion, Crash is the Best Movie of the Year! True, I haven't seen all the contenders, but I cannot believe any other film would move me so much. It was brutally honest. In fact, this goes back to a conversation we have been having in my family for a few weeks. My contention: There is no such thing as an 'innocently' uttered racist or bigoted remark. Such things only exclude and divide, and whether or not those who spoke the words feel the sentiments their words convey, they strike a cord in the hearts and minds of others who share the prejudice.

I am not talking about being PC. Oh, the horror! Truth should always be welcomed and required. I am referring to the expanding of a truth to include blanket references which indite a race, a religion, a region, a gender, etc... Our society is becoming terribly polarized and I do not believe it is a result of any election or political event. I think we are losing the gentleness of social discretion; it has become the norm to be crude and rude, and what used to be socially unacceptable is now referred to as honesty. Everyone is 'in your face,' which their own pet causes but not many people are interested in true dialogue and public discourse... tragic, really... there is the despair, not in the movies I watched.

Dear Frankie - sweet and kind of sad. The Corpse Bride - quirky (go figure!) but I enjoyed it.

Wine - YellowTail Shiraz-Grenache - mmmm,mmmm, good.

Travel? We are planning our summer trip - looks like South Dakota.


And, it looks like I may be joining the ranks of the Sooners this fall - update to follow sometime in the future!

I'm A Stumbler...

This morning I am spending time tweaking my new laptop. We purchased a relatively cheap Gateway to be able to take on the road with us. I've added additional ram, downloaded Firefox & Thunderbird, and have been adding extensions to both programs. I am having a blast! I've been a faithful Mozilla user for a while. If you haven't heard of these or haven't switched, Get Firefox/Thunderbird!

One of the extensions is called StumbleUpon. Basically, you sign in and pick from a list of various subjects/interests. Then, when you hit the Stumble! button, it picks a new website for you to visit - kind of guided surfing. The first site it picked was Perception puzzles, Visual Perception, Optical illusions and Paradoxes

Yes, there are some rather strange things on this sight, but you'll find some interesting things as well. I liked (surprise!) the English Grammar tests and the brain teasers.

I also downloaded del.icio.us, a great way to add bookmarks you can access from any computer. I can't access my homepage from work b/c "security concerns" (please use the finger quote actions when reading typed quotes!) I really do understand the limitations - apparently, some employees don't understand about viruses, or are aware there is such a thing as "inappropriate content" on corporate computer networks.

I want to give credit to my friend at AKA Mike Horshead for the link to ClustrMaps - what a great counter tool! Of course, now I need more hits on my blog. Tell your friends...

One other product note - Netflix - who knew? I have, so far, really loved this service. Which brings me to a couple of recommendations. If you haven't seen Cinderella Man, watch it. Period. Two wonderful foreign films - Les Choristes and He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

To end my little post today, an inspirational quote...
Those who say it cannot be done are being passed by those who are already doing it.

A Little Perspective

So many cliches regarding perspective - it all depends on how you look at it; if you could see things from where I live; more than one way of looking at 'it'; and, nod to Star Wars - "from a certain point of view." I remember one from my childhood about walking a mile in someone else's shoes, boots, moccasins... paradigm...

Why am I musing in this manner? Our outing today was a drive to the little southeastern Oklahoma town of Tushka - wide spot in the road, really. My fellow travellers included my sweet husband and my two grown children. This wasn't a random wandering of the type we usually take but it was a trip with a specific purpose and destination. My brother and sister-in-law live there. My brother had called earlier in the week and left a message on my answering machine - his wife, my sis-n-law was diagnosed with 4th stage cancer. Through a return phone call I learned the nature of the situation. She is dying - probably has 2-3 months to live. She is only in her mid-50's. She hadn't been feeling well, nothing specific, for a few months. Not much energy, tired easily. The flu, maybe, or perhaps a kidney infection. Get some rest, take vitamins, eat right, try to get enough fresh air. Then, after a few months with no resolution, a trip to another doctor. A battery of tests then...diagonosis: stomach cancer. Prognosis? Because of the advanced stage...we could try chemo...maybe two more months but no guarantee.

As we drove through the barren, tinder-dry Oklahoma countryside, we talked of perspective. How important it is to not wish away today too quickly. To someone who is dying (but then again, aren't we all, really...) what I see as brown grass looks softly golden, the color of toasted wheat. The trees without leaves give an unfettered look into the deep woods. The hawk circling in the air, looking for prey seems almost majestic.

My brother and sister-in-law are gently accepting. They are true believers - they know God can and does heal but they also know He sometimes heals by inviting someone to His home where there will be no more sorrow or pain. With quiet dignity, she said she has had a full life - she has two great-grandbabies.

There is a country song -Live Like You Were Dying. If you only had 2-3 months to live and you knew it, how would you live today?

kinda puts it all in perspective...