Carries Me

 I went to church lonely and hungry today, so I was looking for what would sustain me alongside the ever present Jesus. It was the Nicene Creed that had me tearing up. My spiritual life has been a journey full of changes, but to this statement of faith I have always been true, and I always will be true to it. It’s the short form for explaining my beliefs.

Extraordinary Opportunity Afoot

 It’s one of those things that now that I've thought about it I can’t stop thinking about it, and that is this—Lupin vs Sherlock. Great detective vs criminal mastermind. Frenchie versus an Englishman. Two amazing actors and supporting casts. It must be done! O to be a writer in that room.

 

Simone Giertz: Creator of Useless Things

 

Watching Simone Giertz is a quick cure for humorous hubris. She walks a narrow line between surprisingly useful and the characteristically crazy. She has no problem falling off the line in either direction. I have no problem watching, placing internal bets on what it will be this time.

If you have ever had a problem that required a very specific solution, one that is not presented to the masses, watch Simone. If you like to make things that are very personal or experimental, watch Simone. If you love Rube Goldberg, watch Simone. If you just need a reminder that your time is your own to waste as you please, watch Simone.

There is something very healing about this channel. You really won’t be wasting your time.

https://www.youtube.com/@simonegiertz/featured

4 Eyes

 Every so often I fall into a nice cycle of Netflix shows. Recently I’ve been happy with four that always have the right thing to offer.

I am very late to the party on this one, but it’s nice to have such a backlog of shows to work through. This show is charming and deserves its popularity.

SWAT has a 70’s vibe that is classy and comforting at the same time. The mixture of evolving stories punctuated by police crises is just right.

If you could hug a tv show you would hug this one. Heart-warming you will find yourself tearing up over the question, “How can I help?” Strong performances bring the whole hospital to life.

A good detective story is usually a thrill. Lupin is a great criminal story and a definite thrill. I love the mixture of old school sleight of hand and high tech gadgets that keep this story rocketing forward even as it shifts through different time periods. 

Decor No More

Twenty years ago I fell in love with a Ralph Lauren comforter in the fancy store in the mall. It was never going to be mine, but I wished it well as I resumed my shopping. Some time later I found it at Burlington Coat Factory and I was overjoyed to take it home where it proved as toasty warm as it was beautiful. A lot happens in twenty years and the comforter no longer serves as decor, but it’s still so toasty warm I can’t imagine winter without it. When the thermostat kicks over to heat, out comes my Rebecca comforter. 

I like things that last. 

 

Bury Me in Maryland

                                                             

I have my morbid moments. Recently the song, Bury Me In Georgia has me thinking about how I’d like to be buried again. My original thought was to be cremated and have my ashes sprinkled on Warrior Run Creek by Calvary Baptist Church where I used to play. I can’t think of a more tranquil spot, or any place else I’ve been happier, the simple kind of happy a child with wet feet feels.

I’m Catholic now, so that’s out. I haven’t come up with anything that meets regulations and still feels meaningful to me. Besides Cumberland I never lived somewhere long enough to put down eternal resting place roots. I suppose they could haul my body back to Cumberland and bury me in the graveyard where my grandparents are buried and Susan and I used to play, but that’s a lot of fuss with a dead body. My kids will probably be in charge by then. Maybe I should let them make choices that are meaningful to them.

In any case, I love the way Bury Me In Georgia stirred up my love for my roots. It’s a beautiful song.

Sharmon from SWF Beach Life

 Shelling is my favorite thing to do at the beach. Everything is fun at the beach, but shelling feels productive. It scratches my need to collect. I live in Michigan, so going shelling is an infrequent pleasure, but there is a quick fix, SWF Beach Life. 

This one woman show takes you to the best beaches for shelling in South Florida and then proceeds to dazzle the viewer with treasure after treasure plucked from the sand. She both narrates parts of the video and lets you have “beach time” just recording the ambient sounds. 

If the beach is your happy place, then this channel is a must. You might want to rub on a little sunscreen, and then you’re there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsoaASPXRtE

Bong

 Material things can be useful. I’ve taken to my water bottle, and am doing much better at hydration. It’s metal so the metallic taste of our well water makes sense, and I don’t mind it as much. It’s pretty, so I like having it around. It’s easy to clean, so my water tastes pristine. The handle is just the right size and shape for carrying around. It fits in my cupholder in my car. The surprising thing I really enjoy is the noise it makes when it bumps into something. It’s like a bell in a buddhist temple. It promotes peace and tranquility. If you struggle with hydration a good water bottle can make a difference.

For Your Consideration

 My freshman year of college was the worst year of my life. Part of me is still stuck reliving it on a merry-go-round that is anything but merry. I hit campus having turned seventeen in June. My parents worked in Christian schools, so we were together 24/7 except for a week of summer camp each year. I had always lived in the shadow of their protection. College on my own felt like fire on an exposed nerve. I was looking for anything to ease the pain. I couldn’t go home. I would lose my scholarship. I found the only help was questionable, and it ruined my life. The moment my parents had held up as the pinnacle of my life was destroyed beyond mending. It didn’t matter that what happened wasn’t what I wanted and was facilitated by the innocence my community had so carefully cultivated. It had happened, and that was all there was. No comforting Augustine for a Baptist girl.

Homeschooling parents, give your kids a measured independence out of your reach. Allow them enough love to make mistakes. Teach them how to protect themselves, not squat under your protection, and just because someone is really smart doesn’t mean they are ready to be on their own.

Priming the Pump

 Sometimes my mental processes get jammed and shut down. There really isn’t much to be done, other than sit tight and watch way too much everything. Slowly though the logs disentangle and a trickle comes through. I’ve found it smart to grab a short easy book and glide through it before asking anything more difficult of myself. This latest occurrence I turned to A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. It is fine little book, handling very difficult subjects with optimism and gentleness. I do recommend it. It is also going on my list of books to read when your faith in humanity hangs by a thread.

Off and on I like to imagine how we might do better with refugees. I’ve never done the serious reading I ought to do, but this book opened up the subject without shutting down the trickle. The problem is bigger than I was thinking. Good thing fixing it isn’t my day job, probably it’s just my prayer job.

All around a very good, useful book in a short and simple package. I will be recommending this one often.