Green

Have you noticed that recently everything is all about "green." It's no longer "save the planet," but "be green." Buy energy saving lightbulbs. Each organic food. Drive a hybrid car. Reduce your carbon foot-print. And it has even spawned epithets such as "eco-terrorist." Recently, I read an article about women who have decided not to have children because it is better for the environment. One lady even aborted her child to protect aforesaid environment. (It's absolutely horrible how deluded their thinking is.) Here is the link. Sorry, I don't know how to do spiffy, nice looking, hidden link things. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=495495&in_page_id=1879 I suggest reading the comments too. They give some perspective.

Later, I looked at my water bottle, and it said that the new design was eco-friendly because it uses 30% less plastic, and that is good for the environment. That irritated me. I feel bombarded. Be green, be green, all because of GLOBAL WARMING. Which, incidentally, I do not really believe in. I think that all of this be green and save the environment stuff is based on several false assumptions and faulty presuppositions. Two of which are overpopulation and global warming. First of all, the earth is not overpopulated. In fact, several countries are having population problems because people are not having enough children to even maintain the current population. Some places are giving people incentives to have children. Second, 30 years ago, it was global cooling, and we were going to have a second ice age. Now, it's global warming, and we are all going to drown because the ice caps are melting. I tend to believe that the earth goes through different phases of hot and cold over the years.

Now, before I am labeled an eco-terrorist, I want to let you know that I believe in being a good steward of the Lord's creation. I do not think that people should litter or pollute our water systems or things of that sort. And, I recycled an ink cartridge and enjoyed it! Though I think it might have been the act of putting it in the nifty sleeve and sending off a package without having to pay postage, but it was an exciting experience nonetheless. I love fresh produce and local meat. Give me open spaces and fresh air any day. I am not a fan of cities and suburbs and not being able to see the stars at night because of the glare of the lights. I think cows are cute and farmers are the salt of the earth. But I am sick of hearing celebrities and everyone else tell me to be green.

Hello

I suppose an update is in order. I will soon be back to finish the semester. Insanity. I just want to be done with it. It's been SO busy. Uff da. I simply cannot wait for a month of no homework or papers or such. After this semester, I'm done with classes! I'm student teaching next semester. I'm nervous, but it will be a different kind of busy, and I'm looking forward to not writing research papers!

I need to go. I have to write my paper.

You Know You're a Hillsdale College Student When...

When you watch a movie and quickly pick up on the American themes heavily inserted into a movie supposedly about France in the time when Da Vinci was alive. (1500s?) (Everafter) And then thinking back to the Merovingian period of Frankia when it was not unheard of for royalty to marry slave girls or women of low birth and then rehearse the changes that happened in the Carolingian period to make it almost impossible for those of high birth to marry those of low birth. I'm sure this is all rather fascinating to you all. ;-) Anyway, Everafter is very American. It's so funny to see American values superimposed on other cultures. We think that just because romantic love is such a big deal to us, it held the same weight in other times and cultures as it does here. Back then, marriages to secure good standing and wealth and property were commonplace, and you married for the economics and politics more than the feeling, especially if you were in the higher classes. I think the lower classes were allowed more freedom.

Soldiers

I helped assemble care packages for soldiers this evening. It was a wonderful experience and feeling. So often we forget, I forget, that there are men and women in Iraq, American men and women, fighting and dying for their country and their fellow citizens. They are at war. What are we? We have battles to fight. Do we fight them? Spiritual battles, social battles, political battles. Or do we try to sit on the fence, happy in our complacency. Content (horribly content) in our little bubbles, worrying about our little trifles. We must not forget the valiant, the suffering, the needy. They are everywhere, not just in Iraq. What about our brothers and sisters in Christ dying and suffering in other countries just because they are Christian and not Muslim or Hindu or...

We can be so ashamed of who we are and what we are. I am a Christian. Is that so hard to say? Maybe, but if you say other things: Abortion is murder. Homosexuality is wrong. There is absolute Truth. Jesus is the only way to eternal life. There is a Hell. Then you are branded radical. It's not socially acceptable. Be a Christian, but be a quiet one. Don't rock the boat. You'll step on toes. People won't like you. Since when was being a Christian about being liked? Yes, you can reach out to people, and you should, through kindness and love. But there are times to speak. There are times to ruffle feathers. There is a time when you no longer bow under the weight of cultural opinion and acceptance and step out in faith.

Why do you think the apostles were martyred?

I feel holidays in the air. They are coming, and I realize this year how much they mean to me. The wonderful excitement of Christmas. It's the bond of Christians celebrating Jesus' birth. Singing carols. Baking. Lots of Christmas carols. Green cookies. Winter coats. Snow. Candles. Peace. Fellowship. Snowflakes. Big ones.

First is Thanksgiving, though. Family. Hunting. Pecan pie (and pumpkin). Thankfulness. Bonding through food and fellowship. Grandparents. Cranberries. Good books.

Little Jerusalem

Just down the road from Kara's house lives a man who carves wooden statues. On his property, he has a place called "Little Jerusalem," which is a park that shows the different stages in the life of Christ. They are amazing statues, and I especially like how the people are darker skinned look more historically accurate. There is also a little chapel, of which I did not get a picture, but it and the "park" is so peaceful and reverent. I had never been to a place like this before, and I am so glad that Jess and I took advantage of this opportunity.

As Promised

OK, the order of these is a little off. Oh well. Playing with reflections.

I like this picture of Krista and George. :-) He is giving a thumbs up, I think.

George took so many pictures of Jess and I, trying to get the city lights in the reflection. This one turned out the best. The city at night was so much fun!

Jess and I at Navy Pier. Krista, George, Jess, Walid, and I went to Shedd Aquarium and took the water taxi, which was so much fun. Us girls walked around downtown and went to Navy Pier before we met the guys and went to the Aquarium. I had never been to Navy Pier before.

Us in "the bean." It's that cool architectural, reflection piece in downtown Chicago that everyone gets pictures of. That is where most of my pictures come from, actually. :-) I'm a tourist. This picture was actually supposed to be first. :-)

Fall break was so much fun! I need to take more pictures. :-) I'm kind of bad about that.

Well...

I am insanely busy right now. Snowed under, trying to keep my head above water, add in your own weather cliche. It will all get done. I'm not quite sure how, but it will. It always does. Sorry that I haven't had time to load my pics.

I don't know why, but in this format, blogspot, I feel so much more prosaic rather than whimsical. So sad. Maybe it's because they don't have cool scripty fonts.

Today was gorgeous. I like the sun. Sunlight enhances happiness, nay, seems to produce happiness. Stimulates the endorphines and blood and they run around inside, leaping and turning cartwheels.

The annual McIntyre Halloween party was a success once again, though it got off to a slow start. The Justice League and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were there, and they were very funny. The Justice League (superheroes: Batman, Superman, Green Arrow, and Flash) even put on a skit, and I was a victim they saved from the "evil villain."

I randomly sing. Audibly. I'm kind of like grandpa Henry in that respect. I just sing when I'm happy, content, about to move on or bored or there's a lull. When Grandpa had Alzheimer's, and he'd start to sing, we knew he'd soon be off, toodling along in his wheelchair.

This is the month of Thanksgiving! And I can't wait!