sweet silent thought

Waiting...

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:42:07 GMT

Well, I know I haven't updated in ages, so that being said...

I'm sitting at my parent's computer, "Men in Black" playing in the background as I count contractions, hoping that possibly I'll go into labor TONIGHT. Baby is 3 days overdue now and I believe that he's dropped since everything in my hip region is screaming in protest. That's still no indication that he'll make an appearance tonight or tomorrow.

I'm also wondering why the inside skin of my belly button is so dark...yes, it's half-way popped and has been for a few weeks.

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:26:14 GMT

With my new palm centro I'm attempting to enter a lj entry. So: take one.

92--I just squeak by with no life

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 22:32:29 GMT

Stolen from jedilora. Figured it's been a while since I've done one of these.

SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 90 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 244 films on this list. Put X's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.

() Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
(X) Boondock Saints
(X) Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
(X) Neverending Story
(X) Blazing Saddles
(X) Airplane
Total: 8

(X) The Princess Bride
() Anchorman
(X) Napoleon Dynamite
(X) Labyrinth
() Saw
() Saw II
() White Noise
() White Oleander
() Anger Management
(X) 50 First Dates
(X) The Princess Diaries
(X) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 14

(X) Scream
(X) Scream 2
() Scream 3
() Scary Movie
() Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
() American Pie
() American Pie 2
() American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 16

(X) Harry Potter 1
(X) Harry Potter 2
(X) Harry Potter 3
(X) Harry Potter 4
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
(X) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 22

(X) Finding Nemo
(X) Finding Neverland
(X) Signs
(x) The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
() White Chicks
(X) Butterfly Effect
(X) 13 Going on 30
() I, Robot
() Robots
Total so far: 28

() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
(x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
() Along Came Polly
() Deep Impact
() KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
() Meet The Parents
() Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
() Joe Dirt
() KING KONG
Total so far: 30

() A Cinderella Story
(X) The Terminal
(x) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
() Dumb & Dumber
() Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
() Surviving X-MAS
(X) Flubber
Total so far: 33

() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
() Practical Magic
(X) Chicago
() Ghost Ship
() From Hell
(X) Hellboy
() Secret Window
() I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 35

() The Day After Tomorrow
() Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
(X) Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
() Nightmare on Elm Street
() Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
(X) The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 37

() Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
() Lucky Number Slevin
(X) Ocean's Eleven
(X) Ocean's Twelve
() Bourne Identity
() Bourne Supremacy
() Lone Star
() Bedazzled
() Predator I
() Predator II
() The Fog
(X) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total so far: 41

(X) Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
() Christine
(X) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Bosses Daughter
(X) Maid in Manhattan
() War of the Worlds
(X) Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
() Rush Hour 3
Total so far: 45

() Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
() She's All That
() Calendar Girls
() Sideways
() Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
(X) Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
() Big Trouble in Little China
() The Terminator
() The Terminator 2
() The Terminator 3
Total so far: 49

(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
(X) X-3
(X) Spider-Man
(X) Spider-Man 2
(x) Spider-Man 3
(X) Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid
(X) Freaky Friday(both versions for me)
(X) Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
(X) Shrek 3
Total so far: 63

() Swimfan
(X) Miracle on 34th street
(X) Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
() Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 66

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(X) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(X) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(X) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
() Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(X) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
(x) Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull
Total so far: 72

() Baseketball
() Hostel
(X) Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Rejects
(X) Elf
() Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
() Three
Total so Far: 74

() The Jacket
(x) Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
(X) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
(X) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(X) Shaun Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 79

() High Tension
() Club Dread
() Hulk
() Dawn Of the Dead
(X) Hook
(X) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 days later
() Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld
Total so far: 81

() Kill Bill vol. 1
() Kill Bill vol. 2
() Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
(X) Kingdom of Heaven
() The Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
(X) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 83

(X) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(X)Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(X) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(X) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(X) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(X) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 89

(X) The Matrix
(X) The Matrix Reloaded
(X) The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
() Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Total so far: 92

I just have to wait and see...

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:44:46 GMT

...but please God...amen!!!

Busybusybusybusybusybusybusybusybusy...

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:09:38 GMT

This past weekend was Emily's production of "Our Town," which went incredibly well! I saw it Thursday and then went home and did homework on friday. Jay came down Saturday to see it and to go over to Boucher's. There I got presents for Mum and Jay got himself a bible and catechism.

Mom's birthday was on Sunday, her 60th! She decided that she didn't want to go out for dinner, so gave us all our own secret list of food to buy from various places. When we got back it was to a surprise dinner and watching "The Miracle Worker" all together.

Yesterday was my 11-hour work day and again, a visit with Jay which was lovely and relaxing since work was very stressful.

Tonight or tomorrow I'm hoping to get my hair cut and the opposite day I'll buckle down and do tons of homework. Thursday night is choir and Friday is going to be a huge homework night...I hope...if I'm not thoroughly exhausted from 11 hours at work again.

Saturday night is Peter's Eagle Court of Honor, Sunday is something...I forget what...OH yeah...studying for my 3rd exam on Tuesday. Only 3 more weeks of classes. *rocks back and forth* nearly done...nearly done...

Just one line about it

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:57:08 GMT

As you can all assume, no I'm not happy, not I'm not thrilled, yes I think he's going to be just like every other politician. Sorry, don't agree with the "overwhelming" opinions.

And that's all I want to say. The end.

Really...suddenly...not so hot...

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:24:51 GMT

...but thankfully I just got this from Mom:

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing...

Just Facts

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:54:11 GMT

None of this is written by me, just put out there by me.

2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE COMPARISON TALKING POINTS
ISSUE JOHN McCAIN BARAK OBAMA

Issue	John McCain	Barak Obama
Favors new drilling offshore US	Yes	No
Will appoint judges who interpret the law not make it	Yes	No
Served in the US Armed Forces	Yes	No
Amount of time served in the US Senate	22 Years	173 Days
Will institute a socialized national health care plan	No	Yes
Supports abortion throughout the pregnancy	No	Yes
Would pull troops out of Iraq immediately	No	Yes
Supports gun ownership rights	Yes	No
Supports homosexual marriage	No	Yes
Proposed programs will mean a huge tax increase	No	Yes
Voted against making English the official language	No	Yes
Security benefits to illegals	No	Yes

CAPITAL GAINS TAX
MCCAIN 0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax.
OBAMA 28% on profit from ALL home sales. (How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.)

DIVIDEND TAX
MCCAIN 15% (no change)
OBAMA 39.6% - (How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.')

INCOME TAX
MCCAIN
(no changes) Single making 30K - tax $4,500
Single making 50K - tax $12,500
Single making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 60K- tax $9,000
Married making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 125K - tax $31,250
OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts) Single making 30K - tax $8,400
Single making 50K - tax $14,000
Single making 75K - tax $23,250
Married making 60K - tax $16,800
Married making 75K - tax $21,000
Married making 125K - tax $38,750
Under Obama, your taxes could almost double!

INHERITANCE TAX
MCCAIN - 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)
OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax
Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes.

NEW TAXES PROPOSED BY OBAMA
New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet. New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already). New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity) New taxes on retirement accounts, and last but not least: new taxes to pay for socialized medicine, so we can receive the same level of medical care as third-world countries!!!

You can verify the above at the following web sites:

http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/election/2008/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.taxes.html

http://elections.foxnews.com/?s=proposed+taxes
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/politics/articles/mccain_obama_offer_different_visions_on_taxes.html

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/barack_obama/
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/john_mccain/

Unlimited

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:54:15 GMT

At home today we're having Verizon Fios installed. This means unlimited calling in the US and Canada. Canheads beware.

Not Rachel

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:40:37 GMT

Yesterday's activities consisted of:

* getting up at 5:15 am to shower and get to work for 7 am
* enjoying having an alarm clock that is Jay at work on the overnight and not the angry alarm buzzer
* working till 4 pm, the day being busy until 3 (which is unusual for a Friday)
* coming home and puttering for a few hours
* chipping in for Chinese takeout with the family and Jay
* watching "Arsenic and Old Lace" with Jay
* going to bed at an obscene hour...1 am? what has my life come to that that's obscene? lol

Today's activities shall consist of:
* attending the first class of this year of Bible Study
* napping at the world
* driving to Fabric Place to add a little to my stash and/or just visit with Not-Julie and Nanette
* talking to my Jay or flooding his inbox with messages for when he wakes up
* outlining the chapters to be read by the next class

Six and soon a half

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:36:25 GMT

Since the fall of 2002 I've been attending college classes in one form or another. Today marks the start of the FINAL FINAL semester and the FINAL required class and the FINAL class for Bioconcepts.

One of the reasons I was having such difficulty with the first two is that the lecture part is in a lecture hall and I simply cannot focus without interaction. Being the age of technology, however, and since third time's the charm, I actually have confindence that I'll pass this class with at least a C (which is better than what I had hoped for which was a D). They now have a PRS, personal response system, which allows us to interact with the teacher, so I'm rather more hopeful.

Future Julie, good luck.

And Jay, feel better, sweetie!

Enchanted Forest

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:56:38 GMT

I feel like I'm 14 again.

LOVE this new icon of the bird on the girl's hand, it reminds me of the cards for the Ravensburger.

Today shall consist of going to the massive Labor Day parade and seeing Peter, coming home and having a cookout with the family, Terry, and Jay, and probably copious amounts of Nintendo playing.

I want to go forest exploring as well...so I may convince Pete and Jay to come tromping with me while the day is still lucious.

You know what time it is?

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:19:42 GMT

Well...it's not "Scotch and Cookie Time," however, it IS Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Time with Jay!

Fun day, fun times, fun food. :D

Last days of the sea

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:15:33 GMT

In a few hours I'll be heading up to the North Shore to spend a day with Jay, going to a rose garden, going to the sea. So will most of Eastern New England, I'm sure, since it's Labor Day Weekend, but that is why I'm going to leave early in the morning.

Porcelain Fists
Ingrid Michaelson

"Follow your heart", he said.
Your heart will take you there.
"Swallow your pride", he said.
For pride is anything but rare.
So I walked into your eyes without a raincoat on
And in the salty sea, I find you're all but gone.

Take my hand, you're treading water
I feel I am slipping away from underneath my toes
Nobody knows
Where is it she goes?

Looked in the bathroom stall
Your back against the wall.
Cold tiles beneaath your knees,
Your body broke your fall.
Spitting into your own reflection gazing back
Inside your porcelain fists, your palms begin to crack.

So take my hand your treading water
And I feel sand slipping underneath my toes
Nobody knows
Where is it she goes?
When those sad eyes start to close
Nobody knows
Where is it she goes?
When those sad eyes close

"Your body broke your fall"

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:27:37 GMT

Please keep my Grandma Snyder in prayer, she suffered a heart-attack yesterday, is at the hospital and alert today with a breathing tube. She's my last living grandparent.

So all of my worries about a job for this semester are allayed. BJ's is willing to work around my class schedule and keep me on there full time! I had seriously thought that they'd drop me if I couldn't change this bio class to a night class. I'll be at more like 38-39 hours a week, but that's really fine. It's such a relief to know that I won't be out of a job by next week and, also, that they like me as an employee as much as I'm impressed with them as employers. My supervisor was reiterating to me that she wanted to hire me (I'm currently a temp), so this is very exciting. :D

Yesterday Em and I drove all around. We went to the mall and had lunch together, went to Fabric Place where I got to visit with my Nanette (I also picked up buttons for the baby sweater Mum made, some cloisenet beads, and the shawl I had on display) and did not get to see Emma down in yarns. We...well, I...stayed and chatted with Nanette, catching up and hearing all the concerns and news. She is hands-down my most favorite manager I've ever had.

Then Em and I went driving and talked and drove and talked some more. *huggles sister*

Tomorrow Jay, Tarra, and I are going up to Maine for Jay's cousin's wedding. I have to do some small shopping, so I think that I'll go forth and pick up things this morning and probably nap and pack and maybe even clean this afternoon. I'm rather excited to meet his extended family and to relax outside of the house. We were thinking of going to Mass here in Marlborough initially, but trying to make it for a 5 pm Mass is a li'l crazy. So we're going to find a church in the area and go to a morning Mass.

Friday night will be the rehearsal dinner, which Tarra and I are invited to as well. That'll be at John's mum's house. The wedding itself is Saturday afternoon at 5 and Sunday we'll all have lunch over at the Kersting's camp. Fun times!

Nothing else pertinent or interesting left to write. So I suppose I'll go run my errands and then come back and leisurely take my time getting ready to go tomorrow afternoon.

My imagination will make that moment live...

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:32:26 GMT

So here's an actual self-update for a change.

Last Wednesday, the thirteenth, I called out from work after talking to Jay early in the morning (the sweetie gives me wakeup calls when he's doing the overnight). My uvula was sticking to my overswollen right tonsil. I had already seen the doctor on Monday the eleventh, who said that I probably had strep...possibly mono. All she did was test for strep, though, and no mono test.

So, with disgusting tonsils and a thoroughly tired body, I went to the doctor again--this time my primary care physician--and he tested again for more types of strep and also for mono. As we all know now, I have mono.

Okay, haha, yes, I have a boyfriend and I now have "the kissing disease". Thank you, everybody who's mentioned it. It's uproarious. :P And appears as though Jay is totally fine, so we're still speculating as to how I caught it. Possibly theatre? Sharing drinks with people...who knows.

Wednesday day Tarra came by and gave me a box of Edy's strawberry fruit bars, for which my soar throat is eternally grateful. That night Jay drove all the way down and visited, bringing Cup o' Soup, which also turned out to be a saving grace!

All weekend I kept track of the size of my tonsils. Saturday and Sunday were especially difficult, since at night they would swell up and strangle my uvula, making swallowing even saliva difficult and breathing even harder. Yet again, thanks to Jay (and the summer Olympics!) for keeping me company as I choked down food to choke down pills at 4 in the morning.

Monday was much much better. I watched a terrible version of "Northanger Abbey" with Emily while I continued to crochet a completely mindless afghan (made out of *gasp* Pound of Love! acrylic oh noes! but at least it's cheap and there's lots of it). Then Jay came down around 3:30 and we watched 3/4's of "Clone Wars" the tv series. I begged Em to show off what she has written Sable Valentine. Even a real dinner was able to be eaten!

Today I've walked around with the constant feeling like it's between 3 and 5 PM. Took a nap, as I'm still exhausted, but at least my throat isn't acting like a death trap for everything. The goal is to feel well enough to go up to Jay's cousin's wedding this weekend.

On the work front, I was happily working at BJ's corporate office--the people are lovely, the job one that was holding my interest (even if it isn't in my field)--but sadly, with this sickness and then with school coming up, I can't stay there. I was hoping to work something out, either where I'd be able to take my last 2 classes as night classes or at least to let them keep me on part time. But my supervisor basically said that the latter wouldn't work for them and school is such that I can't do the night classes, especially not with a full time job and the main class I need to pass being bio.

So it looks like I'm out of a job for another two weeks until I find something part-time through the winter. We'll see what happens with the spring. But my hopes are up, especially because of the positive responses I got while doing my huge interviewing time in July.

On the previous places of employment front, I was quite saddened and surprised when I found out that Fabric Place will indeed be closing sometime this year. It makes sense and we'd all been talking about it, but it's really very sad.

Places where I work for more than a year should watch out. When I left Noah's they closed and then I left Fabric Place and just look what happened! lol I sure do know how to choose them. Oh well. I need to grab a few 1940's patterns and material from there before they close, as well as stash up some yarn for when it goes on sale.

Redundant

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:58:57 GMT

This may be rather a redundant statement, but mono really sucks.

Dickinson

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:04:57 GMT

I've been in a researchy mood.
That being said, I have been refinding numerous things: my book of names, book of birthdays, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, and the Firefly bookmark Em gave me saying, "I'd follow Captain Tightpants to the Edge of the 'verse and back."

I also refound this Emily Dickinson snippet.

THAT I did always love,
I bring thee proof:
That till I loved
I did not love enough.

That I shall love always,
I offer thee
That love is life,
And life hath immortality.

This, dost thou doubt, sweet?
Then have I
Nothing to show
But Calvary.

Thomism continued

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:24:00 GMT

Can I just reiterate how much I LOVE Aquinas?!?!

He essentially prooves that, although God will always be a mystery since man has not attained full and perfect knowledge, that man CAN know God and His truths. There is nothing hidden from us concerning God, it's just that we do not fully comprehend what we see.

As Chesterton says:
St. Thomas stands founded on the universal common conviction that eggs are eggs. The Hegelian may say that an egg is really a hen, because it is a part of an endless process of Becoming; the Berkelian may hold that poached eggs only exist as a dream exists, since it is quite as easy to call the dream the cause of the eggs as the eggs the cause of the dream; the Pragmatist may believe that we get the best out of scrambled eggs by forgetting that they ever were eggs, and only remembering the scramble. But no pupil of St. Thomas needs to addle his brains in order adequately to addle his eggs; to put his head at any peculiar angle in looking at eggs, or squinting at eggs, or winking the other eye in order to see a new simplification of eggs. The Thomist stands in the broad daylight of the brotherhood of men, in their common consciousness that eggs are not hens or dreams or mere practical assumptions; but things attested by the Authority of the Senses, which is from God." (Chesterton, St. Thomas Aquinas, p. 136).

16. This rational soul is united to the body in such a manner that it is the only substantial form of the body. By virtue of his soul a man is a man, an animal, a living thing, a body, a substance and a being. Therefore the soul gives man every essential degree of perfection; moreover, it gives the body a share in the act of being whereby it itself exists.

17. From the human soul there naturally issue forth powers pertaining to two orders, the organic and the non-organic. The organic powers, among which are the senses, have the composite as their subject. The non-organic powers have the soul alone as their subject. Hence, the intellect is a power intrinsically independent of any bodily organ.

18. Intellectuality necessarily follows upon immateriality, and furthermore, in such manner that the further the distance from matter, the higher the degree of intellectuality. Any being is the adequate object of understanding in general. But in the present state of union of soul and body, quantities abstracted from the material conditions of individuality are the proper object of the human intellect.

19. Therefore, we receive knowledge from sensible things. But since sensible things are not actually intelligible, in addition to the intellect, which formally understands, an active power must be acknowledged in the soul, which power abstracts intelligible likeness or species from sense images in the imagination.

20. Through these intelligible likenesses or species we directly know universals, i.e. the natures of things. We attain to singulars by our senses, and also by our intellect, when it beholds the sense images. But we ascend to knowledge of spiritual things by analogy.

21. The will does not precede the intellect but follows upon it. The will necessarily desires that which is presented to it as a good in every respect satisfying the appetite. But it freely chooses among the many goods that are presented to it as desirable according to a changeable judgment or evaluation. Consequently, the choice follows the final practical judgment. But the will is the cause of it being the final one.

Yes, taken from Wikipedia

My foot hurts

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:52:55 GMT

About two days ago I think it was hit or stepped on or something. But it really hurts.

The show is over and went really well. However, last night our Romeo and Paris decided to throw in a bit of new fight choreography and Romeo ended up with a broken nose. Poor fellow. Thankfully Jay was there in the front row and managed to help him out in time. Yay for EMT boyfriends. lol

Recently I've been thinking of The Whispers of the Sea and my thoughts on God and the nature of creation. Since I had the time this morning, I looked up as a refresher some Thomistic logic. He essentially sums up my own conclusions on God.

Proving God's Existence
In his Summa Theologica (Ia, q. 2, a. 3), Aquinas offers five "ways" of proving the existence of God. Since these ways are mere sketches, they are best understood within the context of his complete philosophical system. What follows below, therefore, is a mere summary of each way. Aquinas offers far more metaphysical explanations for the existence of God in De Ente et Essentia and elsewhere.[1]

The First Way
(Prime Mover) "It is clear that there are in this world things which are moved. Now, every object which is moved receives that movement from another. If the motor is itself moved, there must be another motor moving it, and after that yet another, and so on. But it is impossible to go on indefinitely, for then there would be no first motor at all, and consequently no movement" ("Contra Gentiles," ii. 33). This proof, like much of Thomas Aquinas's thought, is taken from Aristotle, whose "unmoved mover" forms the first recorded example of the cosmological argument for the existence of God.

The Second Way
"We discern in all sensible things a certain chain of efficient causes. We find, however, nothing which is its own efficient cause, for that cause would then be anterior to itself. On the other side, it is impossible to ascend from cause to cause indefinitely in the series of efficient causes....There must therefore exist one self-sufficient , efficient cause, and that is God" ("Contra Gent." i. 22).

The Third Way
"We find in nature things which may be and may not be, since there are some who are born and others who die; they consequently can exist or not exist. But it is impossible that such things should live for ever, for there is nothing which may be as well as not be at one time. Thus if all beings need not have existed, there must have been a time in which nothing existed. But, in that case, nothing would exist now; for that which does not exist can not receive life but from one who exists; . . . there must therefore be in nature a necessarily existent being."

The Fourth Way
Any category has its degrees, such as good and better, warm and warmer. Each also has one thing that's the ultimate of that measure, like good and "best", warm and "hottest". And whatever is the most of that category is the source of that category, as fire (or, in modern terms, energy itself) is the source of heat, and God must therefore be the source of goodness.

The Fifth Way
Everything, sentient or otherwise, progresses in an orderly way. Planets move in their orbits, light breaks from and combines into its spectrum, et cetera. Reality has a natural order, which could not have come from nothing, yet which precedes mere humans. [2]

This is essentially the teleological argument for God's existence. Some believe that the Fifth Way is equivalent to what is now called Intelligent design. However, this is not an accurate presentation of Aquinas' thought, and is subject to the Cosmogonical Fallacy [3].

Demonstrating God's creative power
In order to demonstrate God's creative power, Thomas says: "If a being participates, to a certain degree, in an 'accident,' this accidental property must have been communicated to it by a cause which possesses it essentially. Thus iron becomes incandescent by the action of fire. Now, God is His own power which subsists by itself. The being which subsists by itself is necessarily one" ("Summa Theol." i. 44, art. 1).

What has really struck home with me this morning/afternoon is that there really IS a black and white truth, that if there is a pentultimate God, that God is good, and if God IS the End-All-Be-All, then whatever He dictates is right and good.

And it pulls me up short, and it's made me realize alot about myself and how--since man is reflective of God's creative nature and His nature is to create beyond that which is necessary to survive, but He creates so as to have His creation with him for eternity, which is what man does as well--that every time I turn a blind eye to the few things He asks me to do or be as His creation, that I am NOT reflecting him truly...that I am not LOVING Him truly...He who first made me.

But He is all good and He desires my joy and the ultimate joy is to be with Him. But sometimes it's so hard to keep that seemingly far away goal in mind.

Patience really IS a Fruit of the Holy Spirit. It's something which I need more of, even if I sometimes can't remember to look for that eternal goal, patience and hope that it is there if I reflect the Ultimate Creator must keep me stalwart.

God give me strength. God give me patience. Let me be as an unblemished mirror.

East Indies

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:27:19 GMT

Margaret: Have you really been to the East Indies, Colonel?
Colonel Brandon: I have.
Margaret: What's it like?
Sir John Middleton: Like? Hot.
Colonel Brandon: [mysteriously] The air is full of spices.

Sense and Sensibility

Last night Jay and I went to see Wall*E and it was so incredibly ADORABLE!!! I don't think I've squeed that much since the ending to Monster's Inc.! Even Enchanted didn't have me that melty. Add THAT to the favorites!

For one I simply LOVED the Hello Dolly! themes throughout. That was just so precious. The film makers did such a beautiful (and surprising) job at making you really feel that just simply holding hands and that anticipation to hold hands can be just as wonderful as if the characters had kissed. (Which was ALSO freaking adorable! Aww, electric shock!)

And while quite a few people didn't really care for the plot on the main ship with all of the lazy people, I actually didn't mind it. I thought that it was a good analogy for just sitting up and being aware of those around you and the beauty that exists outside of our own tunnel-vision world.

The filters on the decrepit Earth were so realistic. I was heartily impressed.

My only complaint is that, while I think it was cool that they did incorporate quite well the live action with the CGI, the humans were still too much of a jump for me. I suppose one could look at it artistically and say that the creators were making the analogy that the humans from 700 years before were more real and grounded than the humans in the ship, 700 years later, who are stuck in their own cyber-world, looking more cyber and fake. But it was still quite a visual jump.

All in all, though, a great great movie.

Tonight, around 2 am begins House Strangewaye's venture to the Great Northeastern War XXII. We'll be setting up camp around 8 in the morning and then napping and swimming and looking pretty in our clothes and wreaking general havoc. Rachel is being a queen of generosity and spotting me for the trip. *bows at the feet of Rachel*

I'm getting more and more excited to just spend the weekend with my girls and the rarely seen, but highly sought after Elinor and Bridget.

Finally, I've been job hunting like a woman in a whirlwind these last two days. Manpower Temp had set me up in a factory position that I simply could not physically bear. I had an interview yesterday at a temp agency (where I essentially ran the interview), dropped off and had an impromptu mini-interview for a key-holder position at a Lane Bryant, interviewed (and was offered a job) at the local Target, and set up an interview for a 75% chance at doing office work for BJ's (the only thing stopping this from happening is my car exploding...which could be a real worry considering the sounds it's making).

All in all, I'm determined and I'm gonna GET this job, whatever that may be.

Because of the uncertainty of work and the SERIOUS lack of money in my bank account (tomorrow's pay check will pay for gas and that's it), I'll have a tendency to really get worried and down on myself. But something always comes around to bring me back up again and look hopefully. I will NOT let the devil whisper discouragement in my ear. For some reason God keeps blessing me, despite my total stupid self, and I need to claim that.

Portsmouth

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:45:59 GMT

"Waves rolled in, leaving its dead upon the sand.
Waves withdrew, stealing pieces of the land."
me to Tarra in Florida

This has been a remarkably lovely fourth of July weekend.

First, my 4th with Jay. We went to the parade in Norwood (Jay went with his WWII group; I watched and made friends with an 80-year-old lady named Lee), out to Applebee's, got to witness lots of fireworks by the harbor at his house, and I saw his workplace later that evening. What with movies and talking and being with one another, it was quite faboo.

Second, the surprisingly cheerful attic-hawl yesterday. Tarra came over and we all managed to look through practically every single theatre box. We ended up NOT finding what we were originally looking for--the Friar's robe--but we DID accumulate lots of things to try for Romeo and Juliet. All who helped also got Ben & Jerry's out of the deal...sweet.

Third, going to Portsmouth today to see Beauty and the Beast at Prescott Park. Mum, Dad, and I will all probably go for exploratory drives (I DO love being a passenger), while Peter and Em will most likely kick about town and window shop until the play starts. Emily pointed out that our version of going away/on a family trip is to leave aside our work in theatre and go see a theatrical production. hahaha, oh well.

Tomorrow also looks to be promising. I'll be working with MamAnita in the morning and then going to an interview at 1 with a temp agency for secretarial work. All of this shall be followed by a free dessert night at Finale's with my SCA girlies, Tarra, and Jay.

Doesn't life just have a way of working out? I hope I never become an unhope-filled person.

So, um, yeah, SQUEE!

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:04:23 GMT

For any who live out of state or who I don't see regularly...um...Jay and I are official. So...um...hehehe. *squees*

That's all I need to say about that.

Now back to spelunking in the attic for wardrobe and having Em throw garb at me to try on.

Good morning, George, how are you?

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:30:17 GMT

When people say, "It's the little things in life," I often wonder how much they really mean it and how much they're trying to convince themselves to be content with what they're given.

Thursday morning, I wandered out to the kitchen and looked blankly at all of my companions happily sipping at their coffee.

"Blech!" said I.
"I think there's tea in the closet," replied Tarra.

Not believing her, I opened the pantry and, much to my delight, found an unopened box of Lipton Tea!

It really IS the little things in life. :)

Horizon

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:40:23 GMT

Tomorrow morning--bright and early--I'll be winging my way down to Florida to stay with the Bausks for five days. I'm wicked excited. Apparently they're only a few miles away from the Gulf of Mexico and there's also a pool at their house (the Grampa's old house). This Brandybuck hobbit plans on being well watered.
Everything's pretty much all packed, I just have to organize my carry-on around the laptop, so that'll be last.

Being slightly sleep deprived can do strange things to me.

It can make everything seem funnier.
It can make me really thirsty.
It can make me stop in my tracks and analyze the spoken word in a new way.
.......Jay: It's the last semblance of a normal circadian rhythm I can muster........
It can make me want to play old songs on the piano. Ones I learned 5 years ago, ones I wrote 4 years ago, one's I forgot about until recently.
It can let me observe otherworldliness and not see it as so strange. (Thanks to donnadevanefor that link.)

Girl Laying Down
by Anna Ternheim

I know a girl laying down
She's sleeping
Weeks at a time
And when she wakes up
She watches TV
Counting cracks in the ceiling

No, I don't know what she's thinking
So I give up, waiting for someone waiting
Talking to someone, staring

I never come around
I never come around
I left her fifteen years behind
Girl's laying down
Never come around

So much for girl staying
In afraid of
Beeing needed
And seen she watches
The world on a screen
She's distant
And God knows I tried to leave her
But she's got a constant fever

I let it slip my mind
I never come around
I never come around
I left her fifteen years behind

I know a girl laying down
No, I never wasted my time
We have something in common
She's as different as I am