So, I have a degree in Comparative Literature. "What does THAT mean?" you think. Well, it can be a lengthy explanation. In fact, one of the courses I had to take was defining the discipline. I find that funny because I'm not sure how many other disciplines are out there for study that have to first be defined. I mean, you go into biology, you know that it is the study of life. It's the title. But, somehow, comparative literature is a bit more elusive than that. But, to break it down, it is the comparing of two of more cultures through a medium of art; be it the literature of books to books, or even literature and film or whatever. It is mandatory to have a minimum of two languages with which to use in comparison, and by this, also the cultural background to discuss theories, sciences, social changes, etc.
Because of the blessing of this training, when I read something, I tend to look at a lot of different perspectives considering what is being written. With that in mind, the number one rule in comparative literature is to GO TO THE SOURCE.
Every time someone references a quote, a link, a theory, or what have you, I am searching for the original context. There are too many times that people pick up on something they were looking for and exclude the rest of the context with which it was said, written, or done. In fact, within the church culture I live in, we are constantly reminded NOT to quote apostles and/or prophets unless we can give the exact reference so that the context can be read by listeners/readers at another time.
I read something today and was shocked at the way information was presented. I am not doubting the person had good intentions, but the quotes used were severely out of context. We have to be careful that when we are looking to "justify" our reasons for doing something that we use our own words and stop pretending that we are standing on the shoulders of others. If it isn't in the context of the quote, we lose a lot of understanding when separated from the rest of the speech, book, film, or novel. Even if we are taking great care and don't think we are doing it, we easily slide in to manipulating other people's words for our own purposes and typically creating our own propaganda. I'm not excluding myself from doing the same thing, but ask that you please take into consideration when reading bits and pieces of things. Just as statistics can be swayed greatly for a particular purpose, so can words.
30 August 2011
26 August 2011
Step One of a Dream
In the third grade, I decided I wanted to write books. I've been a bookworm my whole life and I even prepared myself through college to become a great writer through my choice in major. I'm not saying I've reached my goal yet, but I am on step one...finally!
I have been working with a gentleman for quite awhile now and he has turned over his autobiography for me to work on. I just finished the initial editing and proofing of his own writings. We meet next week to discuss questions I have and to work out any other information kinks. After that meeting, I will be spending quite a bit of time rewriting and reworking his life into "book" form. I am so excited to be able to work on this project. I hope I can truly see how to do this and create a wonderful piece for his family to enjoy. We don't want it to be a dry autobiography, but a living, breathing narrative.
I have been working with a gentleman for quite awhile now and he has turned over his autobiography for me to work on. I just finished the initial editing and proofing of his own writings. We meet next week to discuss questions I have and to work out any other information kinks. After that meeting, I will be spending quite a bit of time rewriting and reworking his life into "book" form. I am so excited to be able to work on this project. I hope I can truly see how to do this and create a wonderful piece for his family to enjoy. We don't want it to be a dry autobiography, but a living, breathing narrative.
22 August 2011
Would I Lie to You, Baby
Okay, so this song has been stuck in my head since I watched an episode of "Drop Dead Diva"...yes, I know, silly, but I actually like the show for some strange reason.
Anyway, lying is something I can't stand. To me, it goes hand in hand with another pet peeve of mine: hypocrisy. It takes both to be able to lie, according to Liz. Now, I understand that sometimes we may think that it is appropriate to tell a "white lie" in order to avoid hurt feelings. My way of getting around this, because I don't think lying is ever okay, is to steer the compliment/remark in a different direction. For instance, I am not a huge fan of "baby cuteness". I actually think 99 percent of babies are actually unattractive. Sweet maybe, but not "cute." So, instead I compliment on something else like, "Wow, her eyes are SO blue!" Or "What a cute outfit!" Sorry if I'm telling on myself now and you realize I've never said your infant was cute (you probably will hear it from me when they reach toddlerdom because I find toddlers basically irresistible and always have), don't be offended.
With that in mind, I don't think people should tell all out lies. I'm going to use this experience as a for instance, but there are also people very close to me that do the same thing...and it is really everything I have in me NOT to call them out on it and expose their manipulative and erroneous information they share. And, after reading a particular book (THANK YOU, CB!! It's one of my fav's!!), I realize why I pay attention to what people say as well as their body language which reveals a lot of information, too.
A man approached us the other day to request a donation of money for his wife and him to get a hotel room. He claimed he only had $7 to his name, but that his boss was holding a check for him for thirty-five hundred dollars, but that wouldn't clear the bank before 9am tomorrow morning. He then explained that he's having a rough time and he just started work on Wednesday.
After explaining that we didn't have anything to give him, which we didn't, and he left, I then asked Eric if I had heard the story correctly. Firstly, he had a check that his boss had that the band was going to clear. Next, he apparently made $3500 in THREE days!! I want his job, and I would only work one week a month!! I also have to point out that he was wandering Wal-mart's parking lot WITHOUT said wife. I mean, if they need a hotel room, where is she?
I'm not saying that we shouldn't help the deserving poor, but just be wary of being scammed. I am more likely (when I have money or food to donate) to give it to a person who I feel is being honest, not pathetic and with a big long story about whatever.
So, would I lie to you? No. I'll always try to be polite, but I try my best never to say anything that is untrue.
Anyway, lying is something I can't stand. To me, it goes hand in hand with another pet peeve of mine: hypocrisy. It takes both to be able to lie, according to Liz. Now, I understand that sometimes we may think that it is appropriate to tell a "white lie" in order to avoid hurt feelings. My way of getting around this, because I don't think lying is ever okay, is to steer the compliment/remark in a different direction. For instance, I am not a huge fan of "baby cuteness". I actually think 99 percent of babies are actually unattractive. Sweet maybe, but not "cute." So, instead I compliment on something else like, "Wow, her eyes are SO blue!" Or "What a cute outfit!" Sorry if I'm telling on myself now and you realize I've never said your infant was cute (you probably will hear it from me when they reach toddlerdom because I find toddlers basically irresistible and always have), don't be offended.
With that in mind, I don't think people should tell all out lies. I'm going to use this experience as a for instance, but there are also people very close to me that do the same thing...and it is really everything I have in me NOT to call them out on it and expose their manipulative and erroneous information they share. And, after reading a particular book (THANK YOU, CB!! It's one of my fav's!!), I realize why I pay attention to what people say as well as their body language which reveals a lot of information, too.
A man approached us the other day to request a donation of money for his wife and him to get a hotel room. He claimed he only had $7 to his name, but that his boss was holding a check for him for thirty-five hundred dollars, but that wouldn't clear the bank before 9am tomorrow morning. He then explained that he's having a rough time and he just started work on Wednesday.
After explaining that we didn't have anything to give him, which we didn't, and he left, I then asked Eric if I had heard the story correctly. Firstly, he had a check that his boss had that the band was going to clear. Next, he apparently made $3500 in THREE days!! I want his job, and I would only work one week a month!! I also have to point out that he was wandering Wal-mart's parking lot WITHOUT said wife. I mean, if they need a hotel room, where is she?
I'm not saying that we shouldn't help the deserving poor, but just be wary of being scammed. I am more likely (when I have money or food to donate) to give it to a person who I feel is being honest, not pathetic and with a big long story about whatever.
So, would I lie to you? No. I'll always try to be polite, but I try my best never to say anything that is untrue.
20 August 2011
Appearances ARE Everything
Talking to a friend who is fairly recently from Africa, we were chatting about a few things. She gave me a few phrases that I thought were good and interesting and...not following the "politically correct" movement.
One was, "I know who you are by what you wear." I think this is basically true, too. I have to add that people tend to apply this (in their minds because no one would EVER dare own up to it) to other items as well. For instance, since we drive a Merc, I've noticed a lot of difference in the way people talk about what I drive and how they approach me. Actually, in a very specific instance, people approach me ALL THE TIME asking for monetary assistance now that I drive this vehicle. They don't realize that it was a reduction in cost, so they just assume from appearances. I can say this because when I drove my minivan, no one EVER approached me in a parking lot for assistance. Go figure. This is why I say it is "basically" true because we don't really ever know how much a person paid for an item.
For another instance, my daughter was wearing a dress one Sunday and a comment was made about how much money her parents spent on the Osh-Kosh dress (which, I was surprised that the dress was that easily identifiable). What this person didn't know was, she was speaking to the mother who DIDN'T pay a lot for the dress because it was purchased at a yard sale for $1.
My punch line here is thus: be careful HOW you judge people on appearances...you just might be surprised at the information that isn't so easily seen.
One was, "I know who you are by what you wear." I think this is basically true, too. I have to add that people tend to apply this (in their minds because no one would EVER dare own up to it) to other items as well. For instance, since we drive a Merc, I've noticed a lot of difference in the way people talk about what I drive and how they approach me. Actually, in a very specific instance, people approach me ALL THE TIME asking for monetary assistance now that I drive this vehicle. They don't realize that it was a reduction in cost, so they just assume from appearances. I can say this because when I drove my minivan, no one EVER approached me in a parking lot for assistance. Go figure. This is why I say it is "basically" true because we don't really ever know how much a person paid for an item.
For another instance, my daughter was wearing a dress one Sunday and a comment was made about how much money her parents spent on the Osh-Kosh dress (which, I was surprised that the dress was that easily identifiable). What this person didn't know was, she was speaking to the mother who DIDN'T pay a lot for the dress because it was purchased at a yard sale for $1.
My punch line here is thus: be careful HOW you judge people on appearances...you just might be surprised at the information that isn't so easily seen.
16 August 2011
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Or at least your bike. A week into school and everyone already knows us because of the bike. Thus far, people seem entertained by the "novelty" of the bike and trailer. I really, really love being able to ride the bike. In less than 30 minutes, I can be to school, pick up Emily, and be back home. There just isn't another option for pickup for us than this because nothing can compare.
Of course, I am already trying to figure out what I do in the following years when we have larger and possibly more children going to school. I can't exactly continue to carry both of the girls for multiple years. My big hope is that Emily will become a good bike rider herself and be able to ride her own way to and from school and that Gianna will eventually get to that point as well. In the meantime, I don't mind pulling the extra weight and getting a great workout while being effective and time efficient at getting my child to and from school.
Speaking of the workout, I was a little intimidated by getting on the bike again after not riding all summer. Guess what? It was EASY!! I know you are supposed to lose muscle tone and strength after a short period of time, but apparently I did enough other exercise (building a shed and mowing the lawn, perhaps?) this summer that I was able to sustain my strength. Sure, I'm a bit slower that I will be in a couple more weeks, but it isn't killing me...at all. Even in all this heat, I'm not getting super sweaty and uncomfortable.
There are just so many perks to the bike. I should start a club: Moms on Wheels.
Of course, I am already trying to figure out what I do in the following years when we have larger and possibly more children going to school. I can't exactly continue to carry both of the girls for multiple years. My big hope is that Emily will become a good bike rider herself and be able to ride her own way to and from school and that Gianna will eventually get to that point as well. In the meantime, I don't mind pulling the extra weight and getting a great workout while being effective and time efficient at getting my child to and from school.
Speaking of the workout, I was a little intimidated by getting on the bike again after not riding all summer. Guess what? It was EASY!! I know you are supposed to lose muscle tone and strength after a short period of time, but apparently I did enough other exercise (building a shed and mowing the lawn, perhaps?) this summer that I was able to sustain my strength. Sure, I'm a bit slower that I will be in a couple more weeks, but it isn't killing me...at all. Even in all this heat, I'm not getting super sweaty and uncomfortable.
There are just so many perks to the bike. I should start a club: Moms on Wheels.
15 August 2011
Dinner Meal Planning
Okay, so it isn't exactly in effect as of yet (the official start is tonight as it was only prepared last week), but I am excited for the possibilities. Eventually I will add more choices to this, but "in the beginning," there was chaos, then light and dark and on and on. So, our meal planning will begin much the same.
Last week we had an FHE on food. I feel like we are always talking about food in random ways, but that's what you get when one of your children is a budding scientist/doctor/something. Foods that are good for your body, foods that are fun to eat but should be limited, and foods we shouldn't eat ever (mostly drinks, actually).
I had this epiphany that the kids can help me make our meal plan. It's kind of hard when both of them don't read or don't read extremely well. SO, I grabbed some paper plates, labeled them for each day of the week, printed out some pictures of various dishes with the hope to laminate them, attach them to velcro and have a matching piece on each dish.
It's fun and it's great and I love having the girls join in the joy of choosing what we will have for dinner. I will just be more effective having it planned out a week in advance. Thus, I have added an important planning portion of our weekly Family Home Evening: dinner planning!! We'll see how it goes for awhile and then I'll return and report...at least to ourselves. =)
Last week we had an FHE on food. I feel like we are always talking about food in random ways, but that's what you get when one of your children is a budding scientist/doctor/something. Foods that are good for your body, foods that are fun to eat but should be limited, and foods we shouldn't eat ever (mostly drinks, actually).
I had this epiphany that the kids can help me make our meal plan. It's kind of hard when both of them don't read or don't read extremely well. SO, I grabbed some paper plates, labeled them for each day of the week, printed out some pictures of various dishes with the hope to laminate them, attach them to velcro and have a matching piece on each dish.
It's fun and it's great and I love having the girls join in the joy of choosing what we will have for dinner. I will just be more effective having it planned out a week in advance. Thus, I have added an important planning portion of our weekly Family Home Evening: dinner planning!! We'll see how it goes for awhile and then I'll return and report...at least to ourselves. =)
12 August 2011
Vegas Reunion
The mission I served for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was one of the best things I have ever done. It solidified my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and has helped me in so many ways as an adult, a wife, and a parent. Those 18 months were the most intense life schooling a person could ever have (24 months if you are an elder).
I met some amazing people and had a lot of fantastic memories. It's funny, though, because as life goes on, you tend to forget the details. Amazingly enough, a little reminder can jolt a multitude of memories.
On Sunday one of the missionaries serving in our ward approached me and asked me a little about my mission. He's all grown up and I wouldn't have recognized him, but this was a young man I knew while I was a missionary. Seeing his name tag and chatting with him brought back memories of his sisters and his parents, even the details of the house layout and photos on the wall. In fact, this particular family was a real help to my companion and me. We'd been trying to meet with a particular individual for some time; someone I knew would be baptized soon. However, my companion became very ill and needed an opportunity to rest and recoup. I was unwilling to let the opportunity to teach this man go and we were able to make arrangements with this boy's family so I could be at the dinner and begin teaching. My companion stayed with the mother at their house while one of the daughters came out with me on the teaching appointment. Because we were able to start teaching that night, I was where I was supposed to be to help this man on his journey back to God's presence. I was transferred a few weeks later, but this man continued meeting with the missionaries and was baptized later that year. I was even able to go back to witness his baptism. This man was such a big part of the excitement of my mission and yet I forgot this "little" detail of who was with me when it started.
I'm so very grateful for man's family (because although he was a boy then, he has grown up!) and the opportunities they provided us to continue serving even when it seemed impossible.
This is a fantastic family. All of their children served (are serving) missions and the parents are also serving a mission together right now. What a great example they are!!
It was such a gift to be able to see this elder and catch up on a major portion of my mission (I served in his ward the longest of any of my areas AND I ended up moving there for a short time after my mission). It's wonderful the way the Lord pours out blessings upon me.
05 August 2011
Logger Woman Liz
When we lived in Washington, we had a wood burning stove. This gave off great heat but it demanded that we spend summers gathering wood for the winter. I'm almost positive that we ALL grumbled EVERY time, but I also remember after getting there that it was fun in some way or another. Sometimes just getting out into the fresh air and sweating is all that is needed.
Apparently I was wanting that today. First thing this morning, I went out and mowed our lawn. While mowing I realized that we have never moved the tree trunk parts. Of course, part of the reason was because they needed to dry out some as they were too heavy with sap and water to try to maneuver.
Guess what I did? I moved every single last log and stacked the wood so it looks better. We don't have a need for the wood, but it is there until we can figure out what to do with it. In the meantime, I have regained my side yard and it is no longer an obstacle course to get to our beautiful shed (I probably haven't posted pictures of that as of yet. I'll get to that post as soon as we finish the gables).
There is definitely something to be said for hard work and good old sweat....and getting up early enough so you don't melt in the 100+ degree weather while doing it.
(And those logs are a lot bigger than they appear. Hannah is in the foreground, giving distortion to the size of the logs in the back. There were several (try all the ones on the bottom left) that I could only roll or flip end-to-end to get them over there. You'd be more impressed in person. =)
Apparently I was wanting that today. First thing this morning, I went out and mowed our lawn. While mowing I realized that we have never moved the tree trunk parts. Of course, part of the reason was because they needed to dry out some as they were too heavy with sap and water to try to maneuver.
Guess what I did? I moved every single last log and stacked the wood so it looks better. We don't have a need for the wood, but it is there until we can figure out what to do with it. In the meantime, I have regained my side yard and it is no longer an obstacle course to get to our beautiful shed (I probably haven't posted pictures of that as of yet. I'll get to that post as soon as we finish the gables).
There is definitely something to be said for hard work and good old sweat....and getting up early enough so you don't melt in the 100+ degree weather while doing it.
(And those logs are a lot bigger than they appear. Hannah is in the foreground, giving distortion to the size of the logs in the back. There were several (try all the ones on the bottom left) that I could only roll or flip end-to-end to get them over there. You'd be more impressed in person. =)
04 August 2011
Another Talent Underway
I have often marveled at those who can play the piano. I am such a fan of this instrument. However, due to not pursuing further lessons as a child (yes, I fell into the "I don't like this" category and my parents relented...for all of us, I guess it isn't fair when you have multiple children pooh-poohing the activity), I never did develop this talent. Life continued and I pursued other means of developing my music abilities.
First was singing. I have always loved singing and this has become my tell-sign if things aren't okay because I STOP singing. This lends largely to the singing of our lives that goes on in our home, including Gianna and Emily's own versions of "My Life the Musical". I've never had any formal training, though I did sing in the choir at school and church, but I did learn by singing along side of my older sister who did play the piano. I learned both soprano and alto voice this way. Currently I get to share my love of music and singing by serving as the Primary Music Leader at church. I teach children the age of 3-12 in large group settings.
Next was the selection of the flute as my "other" musical instrument. While in the fourth grade, my parents and I agreed to this instrument and they purchased a new one for me to use and learn on. In the fifth grade I began learning the flute and played in the "band"...I'm not sure what they called it then. I continued this throughout middle and high school. I thought the flute was such an elegant instrument and that was largely the reason for my choice, not realizing how a major part of it's beauty is in the fact that it is an accompaniment instrument that sounds beautiful next to other voices.
I didn't leave off on musical instruments there. My junior year in high school we had a change of band teachers. Because of this, a large portion of students dropped band and jazz band. I wanted to participate in jazz band, but there wasn't a whole lot of need for the flute. I was fascinated by the throaty tones of the saxophone and a friend of mine and I promptly requested the opportunity to join. We went the first day to discover that the new teacher was unaware that neither of us had ever played a saxophone before. He relegated us to the storage room to learn. We had a crash course in it, administer by ourselves, and began playing with the rest of the jazz band the following week (we only met two mornings per week, so we essentially learned in two days). It was an easy transition because of fingering, but a whole new world for mouth positioning and our poor embouchures! I was so in love with this and had a few solos, which was quite intimidating and problematic since tightening the embouchure changes the sound emanating from the instrument. Squeaks ensued, but I was learning performance.
After leaving high school early, I no longer played in concert, pep, or jazz bands, so my instrument skills have fallen by the wayside. It just isn't as much fun to play the flute solo and I don't own my own saxophone, so I have let it slip with the goal that some day I will get back to it. However, I have spent a lot of time singing and was blessed to serve a mission under a president who advised us to sing at every appointment, which I did.
Since getting married and housing Eric's Grandaddy's electric piano, I have had the desire to restart my learning of the piano. I recently made arrangements to learn from my friend, Beth. Things happened and I wasn't able to start. However, she had the need of housing a "real" piano for a few months and it is now a resident at the Boyd Abode. In exchange, she has offered to give me lessons. It's fantastic! I am loving it so much!! I don't have great skills, but I am learning and she is a great encourager. I couldn't tell you how much time I am spending at the keys, but I sit down a few times a day because I love it so much. I hope that by seeing me learn the piano and loving it, my girls will continue to have the desire to learn and play and have that gift in their lives. And, I hope that they will one day exceed my abilities and amaze me with their skills. Motivation seems such a factor for children learning things like this, but it is also an effort and work for the parents to stay behind it and encourage them on the path. I know too many adults who are living my same "I wish I would have" life in regards to the piano.
So, for the next forever, I hope to be taking lessons and learning to become a proficient pianist so I can bring music into our home more fully as well as to serve in other ways in church.
First was singing. I have always loved singing and this has become my tell-sign if things aren't okay because I STOP singing. This lends largely to the singing of our lives that goes on in our home, including Gianna and Emily's own versions of "My Life the Musical". I've never had any formal training, though I did sing in the choir at school and church, but I did learn by singing along side of my older sister who did play the piano. I learned both soprano and alto voice this way. Currently I get to share my love of music and singing by serving as the Primary Music Leader at church. I teach children the age of 3-12 in large group settings.
Next was the selection of the flute as my "other" musical instrument. While in the fourth grade, my parents and I agreed to this instrument and they purchased a new one for me to use and learn on. In the fifth grade I began learning the flute and played in the "band"...I'm not sure what they called it then. I continued this throughout middle and high school. I thought the flute was such an elegant instrument and that was largely the reason for my choice, not realizing how a major part of it's beauty is in the fact that it is an accompaniment instrument that sounds beautiful next to other voices.
I didn't leave off on musical instruments there. My junior year in high school we had a change of band teachers. Because of this, a large portion of students dropped band and jazz band. I wanted to participate in jazz band, but there wasn't a whole lot of need for the flute. I was fascinated by the throaty tones of the saxophone and a friend of mine and I promptly requested the opportunity to join. We went the first day to discover that the new teacher was unaware that neither of us had ever played a saxophone before. He relegated us to the storage room to learn. We had a crash course in it, administer by ourselves, and began playing with the rest of the jazz band the following week (we only met two mornings per week, so we essentially learned in two days). It was an easy transition because of fingering, but a whole new world for mouth positioning and our poor embouchures! I was so in love with this and had a few solos, which was quite intimidating and problematic since tightening the embouchure changes the sound emanating from the instrument. Squeaks ensued, but I was learning performance.
After leaving high school early, I no longer played in concert, pep, or jazz bands, so my instrument skills have fallen by the wayside. It just isn't as much fun to play the flute solo and I don't own my own saxophone, so I have let it slip with the goal that some day I will get back to it. However, I have spent a lot of time singing and was blessed to serve a mission under a president who advised us to sing at every appointment, which I did.
Since getting married and housing Eric's Grandaddy's electric piano, I have had the desire to restart my learning of the piano. I recently made arrangements to learn from my friend, Beth. Things happened and I wasn't able to start. However, she had the need of housing a "real" piano for a few months and it is now a resident at the Boyd Abode. In exchange, she has offered to give me lessons. It's fantastic! I am loving it so much!! I don't have great skills, but I am learning and she is a great encourager. I couldn't tell you how much time I am spending at the keys, but I sit down a few times a day because I love it so much. I hope that by seeing me learn the piano and loving it, my girls will continue to have the desire to learn and play and have that gift in their lives. And, I hope that they will one day exceed my abilities and amaze me with their skills. Motivation seems such a factor for children learning things like this, but it is also an effort and work for the parents to stay behind it and encourage them on the path. I know too many adults who are living my same "I wish I would have" life in regards to the piano.
So, for the next forever, I hope to be taking lessons and learning to become a proficient pianist so I can bring music into our home more fully as well as to serve in other ways in church.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)