Sunday, Here Comes the Week

For those of you who were wondering, no, I am not confused on this issue. :-) I do, however, find it ridiculous when even the application is liberal/politically correct. It's an application, it should be neutral. Sigh. Oh well.

The holidays are still crazy. I have a Christmas lunch tomorrow with the library and a Christmas dinner with the college on Wednesday, both of which I'm looking forward to attending.

We did Bethlehem Marketplace with church this weekend. They are going to switch it to every other year, but I'm glad that I got to do it this year. We recreate the town of Bethlehem. I was the "spice girl," that is, I sold spices. I was right next to the governor's "palace" and close to the slave trader and the jail. It was fun talking to the passing centurions, who were skeptical about the Messiah. People bought things from the vendors to give to the baby at the end. It was rather fun. I also got to burn incense, though I ran out and couldn't burn any today. I think the sellers on the other side missed it, as the donkeys were a bit strong smelling. :-) Sadly, the goat did not give birth this year. That was so cool last year to see the new little kids. Goats are so cute.

Church and Sunday school were good today, that is, convicting. There is so much that I don't understand about God and His love, but I'm so glad that God loves me and hasn't given up on me.

Merry Christmas

Umm

I just filled out an application that had three options under the word gender: male, female, and uncertain.

We Interupt This Program

Yesterday morning, Rod Blagoyevich, governor of Illinois, was arrested for attempting to sell Barack Obama's open senate seat. Hurray! He had been under investigation. He knew he was being investigated, but he did it anyway. Get him out of there. Wow.

Things are really busy. I have lots of cookies to make, applications to fill out, essays to write, Christmas letters to send, and other activities to fill my time. Whew. The holidays really are busy.

I had a wonderful weekend. Three friends came down and we went to the Messiah on Sunday. The Messiah is so beautiful! It is the full embodiment of art. That is what art is supposed to be: beautiful, excellent artistry, and glorifying to God. It lifts you up and causes you to contemplate "the higher things." It was so good to be able to see it with friends and hang out. It's not the same without them.

Food and Baking

I had to share this. I just bought Cornish game hens! I'm going to attempt to cook them for New Years. They were on sale, so I bought them. I don't have any idea how to cook them, but I'm sure I can find a recipe off of Food Network. It will be interesting.

I also bought fake garland with lights in it. Hurrah for festivities. I have a lot to do, but I love the Christmas season.

I just finished a personal statement essay for grad school. Whew.

I have two governors. Blagoyevich is depriving his citizens of their historical and cultural heritage, but Granholm might possibly deprive her citizens of their lives. She has decided to cut spending for...plowing and salting. Now, Michigan is a northern state. We get a lot of snow. Less plowing and salting = bad = dangerous. The local city government has cut funding as well, so it might get a bit interesting around here.

I thought I had more to say. I guess not. I ate good Nigerian food over break. And watched a lot of The Closer.

Oh, I also bought a down comforter! I got spoiled in the nice hotels I stayed at and started to desire a down comforter. So, we braved Black Friday and I found a real down comforter, as well as a cool pair of argyle tights and a cute tunic shirt that reminds me of an afghan from the 70s. :-)

Love and Joy

Save the History!

I'm home for Thanksgiving, and it feels weird to be here without a lot of stress and work that needs to be done. I always had homework and books that I had to bring home with me, research papers to work on, etc, but I don't have that this year, and it feels...different.

I don't really pay attention to the news or things like that, but I was looking at the newspaper today, and our governor, "Rod," is closing down historical sites and parks due to the budget. I am mad! Among those closing is a site in my area. They are also closing several forts, an Indian museum, and places in Cahokia and Vandalia. (not Cahokia Mounds, though) These are good and pertinent aspects of Illinois history, and he is just going to cut funding and shut them down. Now, I am in favor of privately owned sites, but I realize that is not always possible, and since they are already state funded, it is not fair, especially at this time, to cut funding. Isn't there other pork that could be cut? Some places have raised the funds, but with the economic situation, I think it would be harder to raise funds for a historic site. With things as they are, I think it more likely to give to places that provide aid for those in need over a historic site. Is he punishing the downstate areas because we are not a democratic bastion? Can't he get rid of his excess jets? No one needs 3-4 private jets to get from Chicago to Springfield. No one. Our state is such a mess.

Bullseye

My brother downed his first buck this morning, a two year old nine pointer. It's been a long time coming. Congrats!

I just found the coolest thing ever. I was looking at someone's blog who takes really good pictures, especially wedding pictures, and she photographed a wedding that had a reception in a library! It is a beautiful, turn of the 20th century library with several stories of stacks and stone and everything. I'm not a fan of having a banquet in a library, but I would love to 1) have access to such a cool library and 2) have wedding pictures taken in said library.