Happy violet

 

 

Fascination with Celebrities

I was recently listening to a Mars Hill Audio Magazine, and one of the topics had to do with America's over-focus on celebrities.

It made a few really good points ... wish I'd taken notes!

We find "meaning" in following the lives of these people in order to fill a void of meaning in our own lives.

The celebrities have taken the roll of a religious idol in our culture. It gives a common language and set of stories. They worship a common "god" and have a shared mythology around these Entertainment Tonight figures.

The writer interviewed a number of junior high girls, and asked them their preference of careers when they grew up

congress woman
CEO
assistant to a famous person
(maybe some others)

Something like 80% chose to be an ASSISTANT to a famous person, rather than pursue a career that actually contributed something to society. Fame was that important to them, that they'd dedicate their whole lives to just being NEAR it.

The mourning for the famous puzzles me, and this article answered a lot of my questions. Obviously it's a tragedy any time someone dies, particularly someone who isn't sure where their eternal destiny lies ... but this over-the-top mourning for (essentially) complete strangers is a puzzle ...

Ideas?

Link to a summary of the article (unfortunately no transcript posted).

things we're not good at

I was thinking about music today.

Whatever the music gene is, I missed out on it. I don't hear the intricacies that other people hear, or the relationships.

I tried combating this problem with education (as I try to combat MOST problems!) I took piano lessons and voice lessons. I bought a guitar and tutorial material. I read beginner theory books. I actually know a good deal about music, except for the fundamental "something" that most people seem born with.

When I explained this to a musical person, he took it to mean "Trinka doesn't like music."

Actually I do like it. Sometimes I think I enjoy it MORE than musical folks, or at least in a different way, because many imperfections just don't register with me.

I remember reading an article once that said Americans don't dabble well. We either excel at something, or (more commonly), we sit on the couch like a lump. I'm quite good at the lumpish-sitting actually, so I might qualify at excellence with that, but that's not the point.

Just thinking tonight about how thankful I am for the opportunity to TRY things, to be bad at them, and enjoy them anyway.

Not sure I've captured this thought, but ... it's worth what you paid for it, I suppose. :) (another thing done badly ... but at least done!)

This is why I hate home-improvement projects

subtitled: how I missed prayer meeting tonight

Original cost estimate of project: $3
Original time estimate of project: 10 minutes

Actual cost of project $34
Actual time of project: 1 1/2 hours

All I wanted to do was put a blind up on the outside edge of my balcony. I've had one there every year. I end up having to replace them every couple years or so, because the weather is hard on them.

Last year's got thrown out, so when I saw one at a garage sale, I was delighted.

Bought it - $3

Got it home, went to put it up, and discovered the cord was unstrung from the innards, and the hanging hooks had pulled off. Set it aside in hopes of re-stringing it. (15 minutes)

Bought new blind, and discovered they had some (more expensive) for outdoor use. ($21, 20 minutes)

Went to put blind up, and discovered that I couldn't hold it up, while maneuvering the fasteners into place, while standing on tiptoes on step stool. (5 minutes)

go inside ... make dinner ... think ....

Pry open eyehooks wider, fasten them to the blind on the ground, lift blind into place ... discover that none of the FIVE already-installed rings are spaced properly to attach the 3 blind fasteners. Take blind down again. (10 minutes)

go inside ... think ...

Decide that I'm not interested in drilling more holes and putting in still more rings. There HAS to be a way to fasten it to the existing rings, yes? (10 minutes)

sit ... think ...

Go to hardware store, and buy a length of chain and carabiners. ($11, 15 minutes)

Use carabiners to hang chain from existing rings, then another set of carabiners to hang blind from chain. (10 minutes)

Result:

Expensive and ugly ... but at least it will shade my balcony until I can figure out how to fix it. (which, no doubt, will consume enormous amounts MORE time and money!)

rhymes that set your teeth on edge

Does anyone else have them?

There are some words that seem to always be rhymed in songs and poetry, and when I hear them, it makes me cringe.


sorrow & tomorrow (the worst one, by virtue of just how OFTEN it's used)

angels or choirs singing & bells ringing

one notable, not by how common it is, but rather how UNcommon, and yet how annoying
amnesia and anesthesia (an otherwise pleasant song, ruined when that rhyme pops up and assaults the listener)

There are others too ... where you hear the first word, and you can almost write the next line, because you just KNOW what they're going to rhyme with it.

I was in a store yesterday, and heard the "angels singing" blah blah blah "bells ringing" one, and it got me thinking of just how distracting it is from the actual song or poem ... all you hear is that repetitive combination.

Anyhow ... these English comp. musings brought to you by "boring her readers to death" Trinka

moon
june
croon
tune

yikes!

the post where my tendancy to obsess becomes obvious

First, the picture:



"Why" you may ask," does a piece of contact paper indicate obsession?"

(or, even if you don't ask ... you're going to hear the answer anyway ... unless you're bored, and drift away to read about John Deere tractors, or check the weather, or look for posts on your Facebook page.)

ANYWAY

The reason the contact paper is significant is because, you may note, it comes very close to matching the fabric on my sofa.

I found this contact paper in a sale bin at Meijers. There were 3 rolls left, and I bought all they had.

I've gotten my kitchen cupboards almost lined, and still have the bathroom to go.

I went back to buy more of the magical-matching paper, and there was none there.

I visited all other Meijers in the area ... no luck.

I tried Walmart and Target.

Nothing.

Most people would have given up at this point, and settled for another paper. This WOULD be the reasonable response.

However this, for some reason, hit my "unreasonable" button.

So I started searching online. No luck.

Those who DIDN'T give up earlier would certainly have given up by now.

But my Grandpa-Smith-obsession-gene had been activated.

I actually wrote to Kittrich (the company that makes contact paper). They said the only store that carries this particular pattern is "Jensen". I've never heard of them, nor do I know where they are. Couldn't find them on the web either.

Yes, we're in high obsession mode now, aren't we?

Kittrich said they could sell me the magical-matching paper, but I'd have to buy a case.

A case. 12 rolls.

I agreed.

I'm going to have more things covered with this stuff than you could possibly imagine. :) (fortunately, buying it wholesale, it's MUCH cheaper - I'm getting a dozen rolls for what I would have spent on just enough to finish my project.)

So ... Grandpa Smith lives on in me. We used to tease that when he would get an idea in his head, he held onto it like a bulldog with a bone. Apparently I have similar characteristics at times. :)

my birthday present finally arrived

I got a call Wednesday that the gun I ordered back in November was here. I went and picked it up today, and spent some time on the range.

I'm inordinately proud of how I did. :) The first target is at 7.5 yards, the second at 10, and the last at 15. (I'm choosing to pretend that I INTENDED to shoot a picture of the big dipper on the last piece of paper.)

My two goals:

1. Gain enough strength that my arm and wrist don't feel like over-stretched rubber bands when I'm done.

2. Learn NOT to close my eyes tight shut when I'm pulling the trigger. I'm just sure this is not proper procedure. :)

By the way, just a plug for Silver Bullet Firearms on South Division. It's the place where I've taken my classes, and also where I ordered this gun. They have been very helpful, and today the fellow I spoke with took over an hour with me, teaching me how to clean the gun, looking at holsters, etc. Great folks!

notes from the land of dubious sanity ...

Vacation Bible School is happening.

In what I think was a kind attempt to keep me sane, the committee is trying not to use the door in front of my office.

This means that they've left it locked.

So ... every person who wants to get in that door, stands there and rattles it.

I'm ignoring the rattling, figuring that if the VBS folks don't want them using the door, then I won't go out of my way to circumvent the plan. But the rattling is driving me even more around the bend than the in-and-out would!

UGH!

a delightful day

I am in Kentucky for my oldest niece's birthday party. The funny story I have to share is of the adults playing with the birthday present I brought for my niece.

It's an "eyeclops" ... essentially a microscope on a stick, that hooks up to a TV or computer. You can hold it up to whatever, and watch the display.

We started looking at skin ... and moles ... and hair follicles.

When have you ever had a group of adults calling out ... "warts ... who has a wart?"

I'm thinking we're all going to be lining up for dermatologist appointments next week. :)