Since I had 12 hours between Ohio and Maine, I decided that I should also get the Odyssey from the library – since it was 12 hours. It didn’t quite fit into my driving like that, but it was a great thing to listen to a long a trip. I do believe that mine was a little less dangerous than the great heroes of this book. But I’m glad that I listened to it – I had somehow missed reading it during my years of English.
I have also now seen O Brother, Where Art Thou? again. I was just curious about how the stories overlapped. I didn’t remember all the details of the movie when I was listening to the book. It’s such a great movie. And very fun to see how the Coen brothers decided to change things around…and shorten of course.
The EPF is drafting a statement about war, the US and Iraq, and it seems that they have drawn from Chicago’s resolution that was passed during the last convention.
You can read about Peter Jackson’s production diary for King Kong or Bryan Singer’s production blog for Superman Returns. Thought that they were interesting to look at. Great that the movie industry is taking advantage of technology and connecting so well with fans.
So – you can check out a cool new ant farm by Fascinations. Entertaining, but…hmmm…
But maybe gives you an idea for a Christmas present...
During my trip, I also listened to Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott. I had read Crooked Little Heart, but none of her non-fiction. I appreciated so many of her thoughts and reflections. Some of the things that hit me most were about practicing constant forgiveness – especially with the pres. She talks about the need to practice forgiving every day – and how she often has to come back to it over and over again.
I also appreciated her discussion of holding her breath when she was little – how holding our breaths is the ultimate withholding. Jesus wants us to breath – it connects us to the Holy Spirit and connects our body, mind, and spirit. The holding of breath or conscious breathing was an interesting thing on which to reflect – and may be very helpful for a sermon some day…
My favorite quote: “Laughter is carbonated holiness” (would love to give you the page number, but CDs don’t so much include those…)
My friend Ian (from California and now living in England) had an opportunity to travel to Mississippi to help out with relief efforts. He was able to meet people that I know – David and Anne (the wife of the bishop of Western Michigan). His journal is excellent and provides lots of pictures. Check it out!
I wanted to watch this since it came out. And it was amazing. It was well done and an important “commentary” on the drug trade. Unfortunately, it also leaves me with the thought of “what do I do with this information?” now that I’ve seen this.
The commentary by the writer/director was good and added to understanding the history and making of the movie. It was even more interesting than most of them because of the work that he had to do to put the movie together. (Note: I did not watch the entire commentary.) The parts that I listened to help me understand the experiences and research that led to the creation of this movie. Interesting stuff.
HARRY POTTER!!!!
HARRY POTTER!!!!
HARRY POTTER!!!!
So – the deal is, I just like Harry Potter. I just go and enjoy – totally enthralled. I don’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about how they’re different than the books. So, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was fabulous! I just enjoyed watching it. Beth, Andrew, Meigan’s kids and I went today. We then did some dinner and talked about some of the differences. Since I read the book a really long time ago, I had to trust the people who had read it more recently.
But it was good. Run out and see it soon! Because – it’s HARRY POTTER!
Stacy sent this to me because of my desire to get out – outside, away, enjoying nature.
Staying inside the house breeds a sort of insanity always. Every house is in this sense a hospital. A night and a forenoon is as much confinement to those wards as I can stand - and then I must go outdoors.
Source: Journal, 1856, Mark Twain recalls the glories of a North American fall. See more.
Gary lent me Blink for my vacation reading. I enjoyed it – mainly because I am a strong believer in quick impressions – I do well with my immediate reactions (if I stop to listen to them). It’s the feeling that I got before I moved to Idaho – that knew that it was the right place. It’s also helped explain why I may be able to discern happy couples from not so happy couples – contempt (page 30) holds the key. When at least one member of the couple has contempt for the other, it doesn’t bode well for them.
Another interesting parts involved the IAT measuring the different prejudices that each person has (page 81). You can take a look at the site and take some quizzes yourself.
I also appreciated the conversation about improv comedy (115). The rule is: never respond negatively to an idea. I enjoy watching Whose Line is it Anyway? and really enjoy watching Ryan and Colin. In a conversation with someone the other day, I pointed out that they had worked together a really long time and knew how to respond to each other. Naming this rule is even more helpful to understanding what I have been seeing.
And a total aside – I’m totally with Americans like their chairs and couches and stuff too soft (169). I like firm chairs and couches and beds and it’s really hard to find things that don’t hurt my hips.
It’s an absolutely amazing read. Definitely pick it up.
So, Shark Tale was interesting enough. I liked some of the cultural references, but the children that I was watching with missed many of them - even some that I thought that they would get. But, of course, this is why adults can watch these movies and not go crazy. But for some of the more fun cultural references, I found it more funny that I thought that I would.
Not a "must see" by any means, but entertaining if you trip upon it, or need to entertain some children and can't watch whatever it is that you'd rather see...
Tripometer: 3020.0
I am home.
Long, very productive trip. It was great. Very glad to be able to have the experience to go and discern many things. I am grateful to all the people who gave me housing (Terry, Tracy, Gary, Gayle, Susan, Ralph, Erik, Cat, Lynn, Judy) and food (David, Shirley) – grateful that I could stay in houses and not in hotels. It made my entire trip very pleasant.
Some last reflections on Random driving stuff:
So – I was really lucky to catch as much “color” as I did. The trees in Michigan were beautiful. Ohio was good, Pennsylvania was good and most of New York. New England had more leaves than I or my guests ever expected.
Exits are also a fun thing to watch. In most states, exits are numbered by miles, west to east. (Exit #34 is 34 miles from the western state line.) A few states used to just have each of the exits numbered – 1, 2, 3…even if exit 3 was 25 miles from the state line. It made it very hard to know where you were or how close to the desired exit. (Do we stop for the lunch break or do we only have 30 more miles to go?) Pennsylvania has changed their exit system, I was happy to see (since this is the one I was most familiar, and frustrated, with). Maine, it seems, also used to have that numbering. New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont STILL have that numbering. It will be interesting to see how long that lasts…
The other hard thing while driving is dealing with the towns who decide to only put the cross street name on the street signs. Like, if I’m driving down Main Street, the signs won’t list it – they will only list the intersecting streets (Maple, Oak, Elm). Now, if you live there, this makes total sense – why waste money on signs when you already know what street you’re on? Well, the problem comes for visitors – I don’t necessarily know which street I’m on. I think that I have it right, but might be wrong, and could check it out if you would only tell me what street I’m on!
Oh, the joys and trials of travel. Off to get ready for convention!
Tripometer: 2034.5
Hanover was fun. Got to hang out a bit and relax and read and catch up on email. Attended St. Thomas Sunday morning and The Edge Sunday night.
Then, visited with some friends in the Concord area that I hadn’t seen in 20 years. I didn’t realize how long it had been until we talked about it. Christmas letters and news through my mom helped me keep up on their lives.
Then, picked up Si from college and we went to the Ben and Jerry’s factory (great ice cream) and the Cold Hollow Cider Mill (great cider and donuts and pumpkin butter…) and tried to get up Mt. Mansfield (closed). Just dropped Si back at college and I’m headed to Ohio…
So, today I decided to watch The Wedding Date and work on catching up on email. Silly romantic comedy. But not as awful as I thought it might have been – definitely entertaining enough. I wouldn’t tell you to run out and see it immediately, but was funny and did have at least a little surprise. And Dermot Mulroney is hot.
Okay – inspired by this post, I went to Google and typed in “[my name] needs” and the results were so hilarious I needed to post it immediately!
1. men…now!
2. Congratulated for defending herself from unkindness
3. Two therapists
4. A rest
5. A childhood
6. To access information ubiquitously to provide…
7. To stick to her career as a country artist
8. To find the right balance between emotions and logic
9. A family who will commit to her one hundred percent
WOW. Ok – so, we’ll just definitely say YES to #1. And it’s funny, but #2 also fits. But so does #3. And I’m supposed to be doing #4 (currently on vacation). A little late for #5. No comment for #6. I was told #7 the other day – well, the first 5 words of it, anyway. And I think that #3 can help with #8. And then #9 just connects right back to #1…
Too funny for words!
So, for the trip, I went and borrowed several books on CD. I started with Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods. While I was in England, I had read his Notes from a Small Island and loved it. I found it only appropriate that I should get this as I headed east.
The problem of reading Bill Bryson in public is that people look at you funny as you laugh out loud. The challenge of listening to him in the car is actually staying on the road. Just absolutely hilarious. Though, one of my favorite parts is when he quoted himself – he made reference to an “author” of The Lost Continent. Since during Ethics class, I had quoted myself from my Systematic Theology paper, I found the quoting of oneself especially funny. He definitely won points for that.
I really appreciate the history that he includes in his books. He includes the appropriate stuff that connects to his personal account. It creates a more elaborate picture of his travels. It also provides an entertaining way for me to learn more about history since I’m actually paying attention. His sarcasm is also right in line with mine. He talks about some of the crazy decisions that have been made in regards to the Appalachian Trail. Governmental controls and mismanagement that have destroyed multiple species of plants and animals are described in detail for the various parts of the AT and some other places in the US. Bryson’s delivery of this information is fabulously crafted. A great read.
And I walked the AT yesterday. Very nice weather to walk a very nice trail.
I’d like to call this experience: A pacifist goes to the movies.
Erik, Erik, and I went to see Jarhead last night. War. Wow. I forget how much of a pacifist I’ve become until I’m faced with media coverage or a conversation about war.
Very interesting movie. It wasn’t as graphic as some other war movies have been, but it really did bring out some interesting aspects of military lives that I haven’t thought about (free time, the SAND). But it really is a horrible thing that we go through – this war thing. Which is where the pacifist in me wonders – how do we make it stop so we don’t have to put people through these experiences.
One of the “funniest” (as in entertaining) was during a scene that mentions Dartmouth. The theater went crazy. You’ll understand when you see it.
Tripometer: 1653.0
About 5 hours of driving today –through Maine on Route 5 and then to New Hampshire – went the long way between two points – and it took about 5 hours.
But it was a gorgeous drive, as everyone said that it would be. Through the mountains. My favorite part was getting to drive for a really long time – miles and miles – without a house or a building and very few other people. Now, of course, the drawback was actually driving it and not taking the time to, say, walk the whole thing. So, I know I lose some “green” points for that. But really, it was very nice. Maine is great – a few little towns scattered along. New Hampshire has Mount Washington that is now closed due to 6 feet of snow this last week. But I drove by and took pictures and drove down the Kangamagus Highway. I also stopped Christ Church, North Conway. (I’d link to it – but they don’t seem to have a web site…)
I’m now in Hanover visiting Erik (who also doesn’t have a web site) at Dartmouth.
Tripometer: 1408.4
I’m staying with Hope’s aunt and uncle. They have been wonderfully hospitable. I’m working on exploring some of the various areas – some because they’re pretty and a couple because they’re looking for a priest.
Wednesday: Saco and Trinity and some ocean areas along Route 9. Very nice. Ocean. I love the ocean.
Thursday: Diocese of Maine (thanks to Shirley for lunch!), poking around the cathedral, stopped off at St. Alban’s, and then the Portland Head Light and Two Lights. Did I mention that I love the ocean?
Tripometer: 1269.2
13 hours of driving in one day. Got all the way to Maine! (traveled through PA, a whole lot of NY, MA, NH.) It was a long travel day. Not the first time I’ve driven that far in one day. I did another trip 3 years ago where I drove 4 consecutive days – 8 hours, 12 hours, 15 hours, 3 hours. It got me to see several friends and make it to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
So, I drove. And drove. Took a nap 1/2 way through the day. It was all I needed to finish off the drive. If you’ve ever driven that far, you know that there’s just a mode that one gets into when driving. “I have to get there” is the mantra. Stop only as long as absolutely necessary.
Sleep last night was good. I’m now traveling around and taking a look at this place called Maine. Very pretty.
Tripometer: 527.2
Well – up late on Monday morning – made me late for the time to hang out with David in Toledo – especially after the silly road delays on I-75 South. It was crazy and nuts, but I got there and got to go to lunch.
Then, back in the car to head to Baldwin-Wallace College to see LeeAnne and then to Gayle’s. Tuesday is the big drive day – 12 hours to get to Maine. We’ll see if I find somewhere to post this or not…]
