Just Desserts

When I was growing up we generally sat down to dinner all together at the table. We never watched T.V. while we ate, unless it was New Years Eve or a really special occasion. My brother usually ate something slightly different than the rest of us. For the most part we enjoyed good conversation and some fun laughs.

I remember a particular night when we decided to go around the table and say something nice about the person to our left, or was it right? It sounds really lovely doesn’t it? Although the exact words have been lost over time, I do recall the main points of that evening.

I now present:

“Just Desserts”
a Play in One Act
by me

(A family sits around a rectangular table finishing up the remains of their dinner.)

MOM
Well I think it would be really nice if we could all say something nice about each other.

VALERIE
Yeah! Let’s do it! Don’t you think that sounds like fun Dad?

DAD
(slightly forced)
Sure. What a good idea.

GINGER
Do we go to the right or to the left?

CLAY
I don’t like shrimp. I don’t eat shrimp.

MOM
Yes you do!

GINGER
Clay! Stop it. Eat your food so we can do this!

CLAY
No fair…(bicker, bicker, martyr, etc.)….!

MOM
Well, I will start. I love that your Father is such a good provider for our family.

DAD
Thank you. And I appreciate that. I enjoy it when Clay does what he is told the first time he is asked.

CLAY
Uh. I like that Ginger sometimes mows the yard.

GINGER
I like that Valerie and I think the same things are funny.

VALERIE
I love that Mom makes dinner for us.

MOM
Clay, don’t forget all of your broccoli. Thank you, Valerie. I love that your Dad washes all of the cars and keeps them looking so shiny and nice.

DAD
I like it when Clay clears his plate

CLAY
I like it when Ginger doesn’t slurp her cereal in the morning.

GINGER
Clay! Well I like it when Valerie puts butter on her muffin and DOESN’T get blueberries in the butter.

VALERIE
I like it when Mom doesn’t yell in the morning.

MOM
I like it when your Dad unloads the dishwasher and puts the things where they go (motioning wildly) instead of putting them away randomly!

DAD
What?! Well, then I like it when Clay doesn’t smack with his mouth open.

CLAY
I like it when Dad doesn’t get on my case.

And SCENE.

We do not play this game anymore, but we have played “I Don’t like it when…” several times since then. You might try it sometime. It provides for an exciting mealtime.

My Fall TV

Checking out new tv shows can be a lot of fun, but inevitably the fall schedule is flooded with titles you've never heard of, and most don't know where to start. From "Bionic Woman" to "Pushing Daisies" to "Gossip Girl"...there are a lot. Fortunately for you, I am an Entertainment Weekly subscriber, plus a frequenter of E! Online (and their great tv critic Kristin Vietch.) So don't worry, I've got you covered. I'll let you know what I'm trying out, and you can decide if you want to tune in as well. Of course I'll still be checking in with Heroes, The Office, and Grey's Anatomy, but with the absence of Gilmore Girls and- until 2008- Lost, I have a few holes in my DVR. So without further ado, here are a few of the new shows I'll be trying out this fall:


Viva Laughlin:
...Part drama, part thriller, part musical
The fact that it's a musical drama intrigues me. Plus I'm loving the addition of Hugh Jackman to my tube!
CBS Sunday 8/7c

Chuck:
Computer geek by day. Government operative by night.
I don't have high hopes, but I'll probably set the DVR to record the first episode.
NBC Monday 8/7c

The Big Bang Theory:
A woman shows two brilliant physicists how little they know about life.
Pro: the trailer for this made me laugh once. Con: It comes from the creators of "Two and a Half Men." We'll see if I remember to tune in...
CBS Monday 8:30/7:30c

Journeyman: Vasser is a San Francisco newspaper reporter and family man who is suddenly given the gift of time travel... Through his time travels, he gets reunited with his long lost fiancé, an event that further complicates his relationship with his present wife.
Looks fascinating!
NBC Monday 10/9c

Cavemen:
A trio of Neanderthals struggle to live in modern day America.
I'm so excited for this one! Looks like some really sophisticated comedy. Get ready to laugh!
Umm.... just kidding.

Back to You:
A pair of star news anchors work together at a local TV station.
I like Patricia Heaton. I might catch this one every now and then..
Fox Wednesday 8/7c

Pushing Daisies:
It's a love story, a death story, a murder mystery, a fantasy tale, and it's beautifully made.
The critics are loving this show, and it looks interesting. I'll definitely be tuning in.
ABC Wednesday 8/7c

Kid Nation:
40 Kids have 40 days to build a brave new world without adults to help or hinder their efforts. Can they do it?
I'm so intrigued to see how these kids handle being on their own. I bet their futile attempts at adulthood will be fairly comprable to mine.
CBS Wenesday 8/7c

Big Shots:
An inside look into the life of a CEO.
Michael Vartan.

That is all.
ABC Thursday 10/9c

Full list of premiere dates
Pajiba's Fall TV Preview

A Wrinkle in Time...

(From the New York Times, Sept. 8, 2007)
Madeleine L’Engle, an author whose childhood fables, religious meditations and fanciful science fiction transcended both genre and generation, most memorably in her children’s classic “A Wrinkle in Time,” died on Thursday in Litchfield, Conn. She was 88.

I'm thrilled for Madeleine but so very sad for the rest of us who will be getting no new stories, wit, and wisdom from her. Madeleine L'Engle, though known best for her children's books, is one of my favorite non-fiction writers. Her book "Walking on Water" is probably one of the best books I've ever read discussing faith and art.

I decided to let Madeleine have my post today, she writes and communicates so much better than I ever could.

From "Walking on Water" by Madeleine L'Engle

"The artist, if he is not to forget how to listen, must retain the vision which includes angels and dragons and unicorns, and all the lovely creatures which our world would put in a box marked children only."

"There is nothing so secular that it cannot be sacred, and that is one of the deepest messages of the Incarnation."

"In art we are once again able to do all the things we have forgotten; we are able to walk on water; we speak to the angels who call us; we move, unfettered, among the stars."

"In a very real sense not one of us is qualified, but it seems that God continually chooses the most unqualified to do his work, to bear his glory. If we are qualified, we tend to think that we have done the job ourselves. If we are forced to accept our evident lack of qualification, then there's no danger that we will confuse God's work with our own, or God's glory with our own."

"We have to be braver than we think we can be, because God is constantly calling us to be more than we are, to see through plastic sham to living, breathing reality, and to break down our defenses of self-protection in order to be free to receive and give love."

YouTube Must-Sees: Required Viewing

A guide to YouTube Essentials

Injured Bad

I know this one has been circulated quite a bit, but this kid never fails to make me smile.

Free Hugs Campaign

Watch this if you are ever having a bad day. It will make you feel better, I promise.

Things You Can't Do When You're Not in a Pool

Very creative look at pool behavior.

David Caruso One-Liners

Compilation of (unintentionally) hilarious CSI: Miami moments. I don't know how David Caruso keeps a straight face.

Reach! A Lecture Musical Prank

I would love it if this would happen in my next meeting.

Star Wars Music Video

I must have a very juvenile sense of humor to find this as funny as I do.

Laughing Baby

I have never heard a baby laugh like this before. Oh my goodness.

Jesus Video

One of my favorite videos. A hilarious look at what Jesus is not.

David Blaine Street Magic

An amazing parody of David Blaine's freaky street magic. Be sure to watch the sequel if you find this one amusing.
[WARNING: containts some adult language]

Keira and Johnny!

This one is a LOT of fun to quote.

The Pickle Kid

Babies eating sour food is funny....

Evolution of Dance

This guy's got skillz.

Does anyone here sing?

Easter has always been a wonderful time to be a member of my extended family. The cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and many dogs head down to Galveston, TX to spend the weekend together. 21 people in any house can be a good time…as long as it’s not raining.

We’ve always had good times in Galveston. The excitement of Easter derived not only from the celebration of the Resurrection, but also from the Easter Egg hunt and the Cha-Cha church. The church isn’t actually called the Cha-Cha church, that’s just what a majority of my family calls the church. We attended the gathering one Easter Morning and were quite the fish out of water. These folks were rocking on the hymns, and I don’t mean that sarcastically. At that point in our lives, (my brother, sister, and I) this was the rowdiest church we had ever attended. Perhaps it was the electric organ in place of our usual pipe organ, or the excited sopranos in the front row…whatever the case, my brother asked the next year if we would be attending the Cha-Cha church again.

We in fact attended the little church many times over the past decades. Our large family would absorb half of the seating. There was always a rush to be the grandchild lucky enough to sit with Grandma. Not only would Grandma tickle your arm with her fingernails until your skin almost fell off, but she was a surefire guarantee for a great laugh during the service. If any Soprano in the front row should make an excited expression we were all in for it. 3 rows of shaking Lutherans who had been trained to listen with respect and silence were now losing it as they watched their Matriarch crumple in tears of laughter.

I remember one particular Easter when we decided to attend the early service. Usually our enormous clan could file into the sanctuary in shifts not really making a blip on the radar. The early service was almost completely empty when we arrived. We entered in taking our usual seats on the right and gasped as we noticed a new organist and the absence of the Island Choir. We all waited to see what this would mean for the service. As usual, the Pastor offered for any children to make their way to a special class and no one from our section obeyed. We do not leave our formation, no matter how hard aunts and uncles prod. Don’t make me leave the pack! So we remained and the sermon proceeded and everything went as on as usual. That was until the end came too soon for the Pastor. He glanced up from his hymnal and looked at our brood and said, “Well, I suppose we have time for some special music. Does anyone here sing?” In unison, 19 heads turned and looked my way. Oh joy. I was pulled up on stage to sing a duet with the Pastor. He offered to let me choose the song. I picked the first Easter song I could find, “Victory in Jesus.” We prepared to sing when suddenly the little organist cried out, “I don’t think I know that one.” Well, we didn’t let that stop us. Oh no. My dad was sent up to accompany us and that morning I sang “Victory in Jesus” with the Pastor of the Cha-Cha church.

The next year a similar situation came about, but I was not about to be sacrificed by my family. I stepped onto the stage with at least five cousins in tow. The early service received their special and in return my family took Easter Eggs from the hunt...the eggs that were supposed to be from the special Children's Service. "O'Doyle's Rule!"

"Christ the Lord is risen today..."

Lest you think coming up with a name was easy….

Here’s a peek at a conversation we had while deciding what to call our blog.

Ginger: it could be "Pick a Lane"
Valerie: i think the title comes last
Ginger: or "Your skull is on my eye"
lol
Valerie: and is not a weird
and disturbing
Ginger: lol
"I just lav it"
lol
I just realized there was an interview going on in the office next to me
and I was laughing way to loud
Valerie: haha wow
you are 2 cool
4 school
Ginger: that could be it
2 Cool 4 School
cuz we are 2
and we are out of school
and stuff
Valerie: all true
tho i dont know about the 'cool
part
Ginger: 2 cute 2 4get
Valerie: HAHAHA
Ginger: "Good for a Laugh"
"New Mexico Sandwhich"
get it?
Valerie: .....
Ginger: Arizona...Texas...
what's in the middle?
Valerie: oh
Sandwich
:)
thats funny!
Ginger: "New Mexico Two Step Sandwich"
Valerie: oh my
Ginger: lol
"Mac N Cheese"
Valerie: ha
you would be cheesey
Ginger: and you would...put your mac on?
Valerie: lol
Ginger: it would definately have cheese potential
Ginger: "If the pew fits"
Valerie: oh wow
Ginger: "Don't bite off more than you can chew...especially if it's corn on the cob"
"gargle...stop laughing...gargle"
"Who eats Babies?"
Valerie: what?!
Ginger: clay
oatmeal
babies
haha
Valerie: ooooh
lol
yeah!
let's call our blog "Who eats Babies?"
Ginger: lol
Valerie: good job
cut and print
Ginger: lol
Magna-doodle
"Steal Your Own"
"Reach for the stars"
Valerie: "I'll defend you as my friend cause Jesus calls me his friend too"
Ginger: "Yum yum...eat em up."
"THE ROACH"
Valerie: haha
Ginger: "Clay's the ROACH!"
it would be unique
to say the least
Ginger: what if we call it
"ValPal"
or "Save trees - Blog"
"The gym has fungus."
"Laminated nametags"
"You forded the river"
"Laminated Ice Cream Cones"
Valerie: ok, you have officially gone off the deep end
lol
Ginger: lo
lol
anytime I see you type lol
it makes me lol
it's contagious
lol'ing
Valerie: ha
Ginger: are there shots for that?
the lolio virus
Here lies Janie, dead from lolio. Rip
"You shot 2 buffalo"
"Just a coke"
"The derby's been around forever"
"Inclement weather"
"And a pickle shooting train"
Valerie: you are going insane
i am sure of it
Ginger: "I don't hear you playing!"
(piano)
"Clean laundry in the dirty clothes!!!"
Valerie: i am so worried about you right now
Ginger: i'm waiting for you to call one of them genuis
Valerie: yeah, you keep hoping
Ginger: "Many will meet their doom"
Valerie: lol
Ginger: come one!
we can do it
"Your skull is on my eye!"
Valerie: we dont even remember what that one is from!!
Ginger: "CLAY!"
how bout that
just clay
because we have a brother named clay
lol
Valerie: ha
Ginger: and we are clay in the potters hand
Valerie: tales of 75074
Ginger: sounds so dramatic
Valerie: lol i know
haha
Ginger: like an e true hollywood story or something
"Note to self"
"Be Right Back"
"What happened to Dr. Quinn?"
"Before the sun sets on the third day"
Valerie: okay, now you're just going crazy
Ginger: lol
Valerie: and i cant stop laughing
Ginger: ""Littlefoot and Sarah"
Valerie: "Sarcast-ulous"
Ginger: "Head butting for tree stars"
Valerie: OH MY GOSH
Ginger: lol
Valerie: you have problems
"Sarcasti-ful"
Ginger: sarcasti - no
Valerie: "Sarcasti-licious"
lol
Sarcasti-headbutting dinosaurs
Ginger: lo
Valerie: how bout THAT
Ginger: l
"Oh My Goodness!"
"Lemon, lemon...sunshine in a cup"
we did have lemonaid stands
Valerie: lemonade
Ginger: "The lime and the coconut"
Valerie: which is which
Ginger: The liming coconut
"Say, that's swell"
82 to 84
final score
Valerie: ?
Ginger: 1982
1984
Valerie: ooh
Ginger: 6 to 1/2 dozen of the other
Valerie: lol
nice twist
what does that even mean?
Ginger: lol
no clue
Valerie: :)
Ginger: Hola, mi llamo...
Hola, ,mi llamo Enry Iggins
Valerie: wow
Ginger: i'm trying
"The cha-cha church"
"Fireworks in the Shower"
lol
probably not good
Valerie: HAHA
Ginger: now that I read that
Valerie: no
lol
Ginger: lol
shaking
"We ALWAYS have ham"
get it because we ham it up
and we always have ham
"Not it"
"Pass the ketchup"
"Chew with your mouth closed"
"Trundle Bed"
"Now I lay me down to sleep"
"Get a real job":
Valerie: what are you even doing anymore?
LOL
Ginger: still sending ideas
Ginger: "Pair for the Course"
get it
par
pair
Valerie: lol
this is going to be interesting...
Ginger: De-Caf with a side of Sarcasm
"Hi I'm sarcasm and this is my sister cynical..."
enjoy your meeting
going to get ready to film.
"Up, Up, WHOAH"
"Blue Scales"
Pairody
Pair-ody
Valerie: lol
have fun
BLUE!
scales....
Ginger: thanks
dark forest
What degree? 1,000!
"Come get your bear."
"Lord beer me strength"
Valerie: lol
Ginger: "Guys, it's ok. She didn't mean to steal the money."
Valerie: ok, now i really have to go
HAHAHAHA
lol
love it
Ginger: lol
Valerie: ok, talk to you later
and LOST tonight
woot!!
Ginger: Get lost
lol
Valerie: ha
:)
bye

Ear Candy

I've spent the summer doing a lot of detective work on myspace. Previously all of my musical tastes were decided for me by very passionate friends who generously gave or made me Cd's of all kinds. This summer I got to be the one doing the sending and suggesting.


So here's my list after searching. My tastes would fall under a large and broad title of indie/acoustic/rock/pop/christian/folk/and jazz. Please enjoy the treats.


Colin Bates - www.myspace.com/colinbates
Friend and talented songwriter. His lyrics blow me away.


Ben Cooper - www.myspace.com/cooper
So far I love everything they've posted. Doesn't hurt that the drummer is a friend.

Patty Griffin - www.myspace.com/pattygriffin
She's the closest I come to country. She was just on a Prairie Home Companion tonight.


The Gabe Dixon Band - www.myspace.com/gabedixonband
I think I played "All Will Be Well" 100 times the first time I found their page.

Fernando Amaro - www.myspace.com/fernandoamaromusic

He wrote all of these songs for his new son and they are wonderful. (He also happens to lead worship for our children's services.)

The Ditty Bops - www.myspace.com/dittybops

I don't even know how to describe their music, but it makes me very happy.

I think all of my other favorites this summer have gotten radio play and lots of attention...but I will go ahead and throw out Jon McLaughlin, Brandi Carlile, Joshua Radin, The Weepies, and Jackson Waters just in case you missed the boat on any of them.

Hope you enjoy, and if you come across anything spectacular on your own musical explorations be sure to share the wealth.