Thirteen Things I Miss About My Dad

With Father's Day coming up, I can't help but have fond memories of my own father, who passed away in July 2004. (I blogged about his passing here.) I seem to miss him more instead of less as time goes by. Here are 13 of the many things I miss about my dad:


1) His dedicated and passionate love for the Lord

2) His sense of humor--including his corny-but-funny jokes

3) His love of music--something he passed down to all of his children

4) His beautiful singing voice. I can still hearing him sing his signature song, Submission:

Not what I wish to do
Nor where I wish to go
For who am I, that I should choose my way?
The Lord shall choose for me
Tis better far, I know,
So let him bid me go, or stay.

5) Hearing him play the trombone--something he continued to do until he got really sick

6) Talking with him. Long, meaty conversations, about everything from politics and current events to theology and everything in between. I miss that so much.

7) Going on walks with him. Every time I visited my folks in Texas or they came up to visit me, my dad and I would go walking together.

8) Hearing him pray. Many's the night I would hear him praying in another room as I fell asleep.

9) The way he would literally be on the edge of his seat when there was a fight scene in a movie or TV show

10) The way he would play with his grandchildren--horsing around with them when they were younger, playing Dominoes or other board games with them as they grew older

11) The funny songs he would make up on the fly--and often inserting our names into
existing songs

12) The way he would greet me when he phoned me: "Cindy? This is your daddy..."

13) The many ways he showed his love for his family

I miss you, Daddy.


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The Christian Carnival is Up!

Head on over to NickQueen.com to see the latest edition of the Christian Carnival. Looks like some really good stuff there! And Nick has done a great job of showcasing the posts in a creative and fun way.

If you want to take part in the Carnival or know more about it, go here.

Way-back Wednesday

...a Baby Boomer quiz!

Often on Wednesday, I'll take a trip back into the archives of this blog. I call it "Way-back Wednesday." Today, I give you something I originally posted in June 2005. Enjoy!

************


Remember reaching into a huge cooler of pop bottles chilling in ice-cold water? Remember taking a long swig of Coca-Cola that was so cold it had slivers of ice in it? Remember paying 20 cents a gallon for gasoline? Remember listening to top 40 AM radio?

If you do, you're probably a baby boomer.

My 101QFL cohost, Darren Marlar, gave me this quiz on the air this morning, and it was a nice little walk down Memory Lane:

BABY BOOMER QUIZ
Look at the items below. You'll know that you qualify as a true Baby Boomer if you remember...


1. "Cruising" on a Friday night, listening to the Top 40 on your AM radio.--(Oh, yeah! I don't even remember being aware of FM radio until I was a sophomore or junior in high school...and it definitely wasn't top 40.)


2. How much popcorn you made when you got that first microwave.


3. When there were only 3 TV channels -- and it was so hard to choose what to watch!--(At least you didn't need a remote!)


4. Where you were when JFK was shot...(or RFK)...(or MLK, Jr.)...


5. When the "Domino Theory" meant something other than planning to have pizza for dinner.

6. Who shot J.R.?


7. How scary it was to open that first Apple II...(or Tandy)...(or Commodore)...to add a card to increase the RAM from 16K all the way up to 64K.


8. When your teenage son or daughter first told you about the Internet.--(I'm on the young side for that one--my kids weren't teen-agers yet, but I remember when news stories were trumpeting the soon arrival of what they kept calling "the information superhighway.)


9. When the Beatles sang "I want to hold your hand" to Ed Sullivan.--(Yep.)

10. The unbelievable taste of good ol' Ripple wine.--(Have to pass on that one.)

11. How "neat" it was to hear the Beach Boys actually sing surfing music at the beach, on your transistor radio.--(Transistor radios! Loved 'em. My sister had one that looked exactly like a Coke can. My mom said she almost threw it away a million times, thinking it really was a Coke can.)

12. When you bought your first car that actually had seatbelts installed.--(Not really...I always remember seatbelts being there.)


13. When you said that you'd never trust anyone over 30.--(Nope...that was the "hippie" era. I was still pretty young then.)


14. What a TV test pattern looked like, when the channel went off the air at midnight.--(Yep, and the national anthem playing which meant it was time to go to bed. That was actually a good thing--a point at which you could NO LONGER WATCH TV.)

15. When we gave up trying to win "hearts and minds" and settled for "peace with honor".

16. When the price of gas jumped up to 50 cents per gallon.


17. When everybody did the "bump" in their leisure suits at the disco.--(I never frequented discos, but I sure do remember that era. Eeesh...leisure suits. How could we have ever thought those were cool? I bet they take hundreds of years to decompose in the landfills...)


18. Making love, not war, on your way to Woodstock in your flowered VW van.--(Again, too early for me.)


19. Watching the first man walk on the moon with "one small step..."--(Yep, I was glued to the (black and white) TV when that happened.)


20. When Carnaby Street came to Main Street, and everyone wore mini-skirts and platform shoes.


How many of those items do you remember?

Add up your score and compare with the grade levels below:

16 - 20 remembered: You qualify as a true Baby Boomer -- you were there and remember it all.

11 - 15 remembered: You're probably old enough, but they say that "memory is one of the first things to go..."

6 - 10 remembered: It's nice to have you youngsters join us here today.

Less than 6 remembered: Either you're real young or you once were a friend of Timothy Leary's -- wasn't he the one who said "If you remember the '60's, then you weren't really there?"

I have a few to add to the list

Remember when every girl wore their hair long, straight and parted down the middle? You could look at your high school yearbook and it would be rows and rows of girls with that look (except for the black girls, whose Afros were so big they sometimes didn't fit in the picture.)

With my naturally curly hair, oh what pains I took to obtain that look. I spent every night with my hair in a pony-tail on top of my head, rolled into two enormous rollers bigger than orange juice cans.

Remember, years earlier than that (circa 1968, '69) when everyone wore fishnet hose? The really cool girls had different colored ones to match with every outfit.

Remember when yarn ribbons were the must-have accessory for hair?

Remember Dippity-do?

Did you have a crush on either of the guys on Alias Smith and Jones? (Read about my crush on Pete Duel.)

Which Monkee did you think was the cutest?

Got any to add to the list?

Originally posted June 2005

My blogging story

OK, I'll bite! Chili at Don't Try This At Home has a blogging carnival going on in which she's asking people about their personal blogging story. So here I go:

How did you start blogging?

It actually started with my website. The first time I can remember hearing the word "blog" is about five years ago, when I mentioned to my friend Don Elbourne, who is something of a computer whiz, that I would love to have a website. Don said he'd design a website for me, but he asked me if I wouldn't rather have a blog instead, that I could easily add things to. I was so ignorant at the time that I said, "No, I'd rather have a website." I really had no idea what blogging was all about.

The site is still there, but it's fairly static...I rarely change anything on it.

About a year later I was reading another friend's blog when I thought, "Hey, I could do this." So I signed on with Blogger on October 10, 2003. Here's my first post:

Well...hello.

I guess this is my introduction to the world of blogging....a modern technological wonder that appears to be tailor-made for people like me, who can't seem to stop putting their thoughts on paper (or cyber-paper, as the case may be!)

I think this is going to be fun!

And it has been fun. I enjoy it immensely.

Did you intend to be a blog w/a big following? If so, how did you go about it?

I can't say I started out intending to have a "big" following--(and I still don't think of my blog as having a "big" following)--but I surprised myself by how quickly my competitive spirit kicked in. In real life, I really am not competitive. But not long after I started blogging, I realized I wanted people to read my blog.

So I began actively trying to attract readers, and I still seek to attract readers. I commented on other people's blogs, participated in blog showcases like The Christian Carnival, and even e-mailed "big" bloggers and asked them to visit my blog. I still do these things. The fact is, even though blogging is a personal outlet for my writing and creativity, I do want an audience!

What do you hope to achieve or accomplish with your blog? Have you been successful? If not, do you have a plan to achieve those goals?

At first, my blog was more journal-y...more about me and stuff I was doing. I still include such things, but my blog has become more topical. I do the news and I'm a morning show co-host on a Christian radio station, , so I have a never-ending supply of info to pass along to my readers, some really important and some just plain fun.

I'm passionate about Christian fiction, and do frequent author interviews and book reviews. I like to use the blog to help promote the best of Christian fiction.

Lately, I've become more concerned about using this platform as "salt and light" in the blogosphere. I want to make it clear that I'm a Christian, and hopefully attract others to Christ. My personal mission statement, for several years, has been the Mother Teresa quote: "O Lord, let Your light shine on others through me." That is my goal in life and on this blog.

Has the focus of your blog changed since you started blogging? How?

See my reply to the previous question.

What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started?

Probably how to use pictures and links to make the blog more visually interesting and timely. But I learned that pretty quickly.

Also, I really don't mind Blogger, and I can't see myself leaving it...but I wish I had gotten a more attractive, less generic design earlier on. I've just had my Bluebird Blog design for a week or so, but I'm so thrilled at how Susie personalized my blog and made it soooo much more visually appealing. Wish I'd done it earlier!

Do you make money with your blog?

OK, maybe someone can help me with this. A while back, I signed up with Google Adsense. But I don't remember how to check on my account! If I was making any money from it, would they e-mail me or something? I honestly don't remember how it works. The ads are there on my sidebar, but I don't know if they're earning anything.

I'm intrigued by the idea of having ads on my blog. I may look into it. Does anyone have any advice for me?


Does your immediate or extended family know about your blog? If so, do they read it? If not, why?

My husband reads it pretty much everyday, but NEVER comments!?!

I think my son Jonathan, my sister Bev and my mom read it fairly regularly. Also some of my cousins in Texas. Other than that, no. My other son and daughter pretty much have no interest in it at all, I think. Bev, Jon and my cousins occasionally comment--thank you, dear ones!

What two pieces of advice would you give to a new blogger?

Don't use the word "random" or "random thoughts" or "random musings" in your title or description...it's been done to death. I think I used "random" in my description early on, but I dropped it. My blog isn't really random anymore, most of the time, unless I do a post specifically made up of random thoughts.

Find something to set yourself apart, if possible. I play up the fact that I'm a radio personality. Do you have a hobby or something interesting about your background or career? Do you have a great sense of humor? Are you artistic?
Be yourself and let your personality shine through.

And here's a third one, no extra charge: Don't let blogging become a chore or one more thing you "have" to do. Blog only if you truly enjoy it!

Have you heard the "Jungle Jam" radio show?

...and today is "Buy Yourself a Toy" Day





Wikipedia describes Jungle Jam this way:

"Jungle Jam and Friends: the Radio Show!, or just Jungle Jam, is a radio show with Evangelical Christian themes as well as witty, entertaining stories geared for both juvenile, teen, and adult audiences that take place either in the Jungle or with the Jungle Jam gang. The show also features an and Friends segegment, usually an adventure on RazzleFlabben Island with Marvy Snuffleson. Created by Jeff Parker and featuring the voice, writing and sound editing talents of Nathan Carlson, Phil Lollar, David Buller and many others, the program first aired in 1993. Within two years, it was airing on over 800 radio stations. Cassettes of the broadcast were available from Word Entertainment until the year 2000. At that point, the show was taken over by Fancy Monkey Studios, Inc., who sell CDs of the broadcast at FancyMonkey.com."

I had never heard of Jungle Jam until "Marlar in the Morning" host Darren Marlar came to 101QFL. He's received permission from FancyMonkey.com to serialize the Jungle Jam stories in shorter form here on the station.




The stories play early in the morning when kids are getting ready for or being taken to school, and kids are not the only ones who love it. The stories are humorou and extremely well-acted, -written, and -produced. They teach Christian values in an extroardinarly charming way.

I've already decided that my grandson, Payton, will be hearing Jungle Jam as soon as he's old enough to enjoy it! You can order the CD's at FancyMonkey.com. I highly recommend them!

Buy Yourself a Toy Day...

When my 101QFL co-host Darren Marlar informed me that today is "National Buy Yourself a Toy Day" and asked me what my favorite toy was as a child, the first thing that popped into my head was "Etch a Sketch"!

Sure, I loved baby dolls and Barbie dolls. But I can remember amusing myself for hours with an Etch a Sketch. (Come to think of it, it's amazing how many of us grew up quite happily with the complete absence of high-tech toys. No video games or computers for us--and we liked it fine!)

The tape recorder

One of my favorite ways to amuse myself did have at least some primitive technology. It was the tape recorder--and as I look back on it, I see that it was a clear sign of what I would later end up doing as a career.

I was probably only eight or nine when my sister and I first began singing into my dad's reel-to-reel, while my parents were missionaries in Lebanon. We didn't have TV, so we had to get creative about coming up with fun things to do.

We would sing, have our own "radio shows," even read "commercials" out of magazines.

Later, back in the states, a cassette recorder became one of my best friends. I would "interview" anyone who would let me, and again record my own radio shows.

It's funny, I didn't realize in those days that I wanted to do radio as a living. I always wanted to be a writer. But even back then, my life path was making itself pretty evident.

But enough about me...

What was your favorite toy as a child? Did you like it enough that you'd go out and buy it for yourself, on this "Buy Yourself a Toy" day? Or maybe you still have the original...or maybe you'd like to buy yourself one of today's toys? Let me know in my comments section!

Related Tags: children's entertainment, Fancy Monkey, Jungle Jam, Etch a Sketch, Buy Yourself a Toy Day, Darren Marlar, 101QFL

Robin Lee Hatcher's Return to Me

"It was Roxy, the prodigal, who captured my attention at first, but I also loved getting to know Elena, the good daughter, and discovering her hurts and hopes. By the time I was done writing the novel, I'd come to care about every member of the Burke family. I hope you will, too."--Robin Lee Hatcher

One of two siblings goes off to waste an inheritance on riotous living, while the other sibling stays home and does the right thing. The wayward sibling returns, broken and beaten down, to a joyous welcome from the father.

Sound familiar? Yes, it's the biblical story of the Prodigal Son. But in her new book, Return to Me, Robin Lee Hatcher has taken the essential elements of the age-old tale to spin a modern story of two sisters. And under her skillful pen, the result is an enjoyable and absorbing read.

I've enjoyed many of Robin Lee Hatcher's books because of her ability to weave a story and make the characters come to life. Return to Me is no exception.

The story begins with Roxy Burke at the end of her rope. Her quest for singing stardom in Nashville has come to a dead end, thanks to her own unwise, prideful and irresponsible decisions. She has literally wasted all her inheritance, is broken and desparate.

That's when she decides to go back home to Boise, Idaho.

The story of how her return is accepted by her father, Jonathan, and Elena--the "good" sister--is interesting enough. But Hatcher adds a complication: Elena is now engaged to marry Roxy's former love, Wyatt.

It's to Hatcher's credit that we pull for Roxy, despite the obvious mistakes she's made and the bad things she's done. There is an appealing vulnerability to her character.

Woven throughout the story are flashbacks into the characters' past lives that give us a greater understanding of them and provide insight into their present actions. The result: you care about Roxy, Elena and Wyatt, and they become real people.

Hatcher makes no apologies for including a clear Christian message in the story. You will finish the book with your faith affirmed, and with the satisfaction of having experienced a very good read.

Cindy's FYI--Monday, June 11, 2007

--Is there a link between children's vaccines and autism? The first in a series of hearings on the issue takes place in a federal court in Washington today.

--Apple is in talks with Hollywood studios to make movies available for rental through iTunes.

--A glimmer of good news when it comes to gas prices.

--Prison Fellowship founder Charles Colson sees islamofascism and neoatheism as twin threats.

An update on Cindy's Book Club!

...and the "cutting" issue revisited

As I blogged about earlier, we here at 101QFL are experimenting with something this summer. Given my passion for fiction--particularly Christian fiction--my co-host Darren Marlar and I separately came up with the idea of "Cindy's Book Club." (We were so surprised when we found out we had both been thinking about this idea, unbeknownst to each other!)

You know, like Oprah's Book Club, only on a MUCH smaller scale. OK...on a miniscule scale, comparatively.

But my thinking is, if Oprah has done so much for fiction, why couldn't I do my small part to promote Christian fiction?

A measure of success already

During the months of June, July and August, I will be featuring three different Christian fiction titles. (Admittedly, they are somewhat female-focused, but our target demographic happens to be a female "soccer-mom" type.)

The first book is Quaker Summer, by Lisa Samson--a perfect choice to kick things off for the summer.

We're partnering with the Cannoli Caffe locally, and several bookstores are on board with us to help promote it.

We even have a Cindy's Book Club blog--you can go there to find out the details of how we're doing this. At the end of each month, we'll have an actual book discussion at th Cannoli Caffe, where participants can discuss the book, enjoy their delicious coffee at a reduced price, and win door prizes.

I have no idea how successful the book discussion will be, but we do have some solid figures from the bookstores. People are requesting the book, and in some cases, books are practically flying off the shelves. One bookstore received 8 copies one day, and six of them sold within two hours. Another bookstore also sold 7 copies in a matter of a few hours. Now the bookstores are stocking up, making sure they have enough.

To me, this is VERY encouraging. This project is in an experimental stage, and it may undergo some changes throughout the next few months, but I feel its goal of promoting Christian fiction is already starting to be accomplished!

You can take part

Even if you don't live in the area and therefore can't come to the book discussion, I'd love for you to take part. If you've already read "Quaker Summer," I'd love for you to comment on the Cindy's Book Club blog. If you haven't read it, pick up a copy today and let me know on the Book Club blog how you're enjoying it or any thoughts you may have on it.

Also, for your info, the next books will be (July) Split Ends, by Kristin Billerbeck and (August) The Restorer, by Sharon Hinck.

If this is successful, there's a chance the radio station will continue the Book Club past the summer. And even it's not extended, I'm thinking about keeping the Book Club alive through my blogs.

Reaction from my post about cutting...

"I was very disappointed in the Cut song - and couldn't imagine a Christian young woman singing it, without a context of other songs on the album or website that offer clear hope. There are ways to do it that aren't 'preachy'
if that's her concern, I don't know."--the mother of a girl who struggled with cutting

My post the other day about cutting and Plumb's song, Cut, elicited an e-mail from a woman whose daughter began cutting herself at age 15. The woman describes the shock and horror of discovering this was happening in her solid Christian home.

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. Fast-forward several years: The daughter is doing well and is now married to a fine Christian man.

But this mom shares my concern about the song "Cut" failing to provide any hope for the cutter:

"I'd never heard of Plumb, so I went to her site, where that song was instantly playing. I found it very disturbing.

"There is nothing in that song that in any way is helpful, in the true sense of 'helping.' It identifies the pain. If that is considered 'helpful' in showing a young woman - or a parent - how this feels or that someone else feels it, then I suppose it is 'helpful.' But it offers absolutely no true help or hope - and in fact, I believe it adds to the haunting, eerie, romantic tragedy-feel of it."

As I mentioned in the previous post, kudos to Plumb for her compassion and her desire to raise awareness of the issue. This is not meant to trash her as a person and an artist. However, I think many parents and friends of cutters may echo that mom's concerns about the song.

If you are a cutter reading this post, please read my other post about the issue, which offers hope in Jesus Christ, as well as several helpful links.

And may all of you have a wonderful and blessed weekend!

Related Tags: Cindy's Book Club, books, reading, fiction, Christian fiction, Quaker Summer, Lisa Samson, Kristin Billerbeck, Sharon Hinck, cutting, Cut, Plumb

Thirteen Things to Let You Know About

1. Paris Hilton is already out of jail. But she won't be out partying for at least 40 days.

2. Some companies have a Results Only policy? This is my kind of job. Hat tip to Goodbrownie.

3. (In my best mom voice): I told you so! I knew those shoes with wheels on them had to be dangerous.

4. She's being called the Polish Anne Frank: diary discovered. Hat tip to Lisa Samson.

5. Letters written by the late author Flannery O'Connor are being made available to the public. Hat tip to Thunderstruck.org.

6. Model Gisele Bundchen thinks no one is a virgin these days:

"Today no one is a virgin when they get married ... show me someone who's a virgin!" she said.

Actually, I could point her to quite a few.

7. A new poll suggests that the more people watch television, the less likely they are to go to church or believe in traditional morals.

8. The San Antonio Spurs have a secret weapon: a group of nuns who are praying for them and cheering them on.

9. Ford has passed Toyota in initial quality rankings. (Can I get a "Yay!" for American-made?)

10. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. was a real life hero recently.

11. In case your mom never taught you or you didn't take home ec, this video will teach you how to sew on a button. Hat tip to The Evangelical Outpost.

12. A lesbian is suing the Christian online dating service eHarmony. Hat tip to La Shawn Barber.

13. Author Jean Blue is proof that even great grandmas can write mystery romance.

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The Christian Carnival is Up!

Actually, it's been up since yesterday. I'm a little belated in my announcement.

What, you ask, is the Christian Carnival? It's an opportunity for you to get your blog noticed and to introduce yourself to other bloggers.

Check out the current Carnival, hosted this week by The Bible Archive. (Rey did a very clever job in rounding up the posts.)

And go here to subscribe to an e-mail list that will keep you informed about upcoming editiosn of the Carnival.

"I am cut"

A song about cutting creates awareness...and some controversy

I do not want to be afraid
I do not want to die inside just to breathe in
I'm tired of feeling so numb
Relief exists I find it when
I am cut--from Cut, by Plumb

This morning on 101QFL's Marlar in the Morning show, Darren and I got a call from a father who just found out over the weekend that his 17-year-old daughter is cutting herself. The caller told us that his "world blew apart" when he found out--actually, through a school guidance counselor--that his daughter was inflicting wounds on herself.

She's not alone. Statistics are hard to come by, because it's a practice that's easy to hide. But when a "cutter" spoke up on the singer Plumb's message board, it was flooded with other young people who cut.

This morning's caller asked us to play Plumb's song, "Cut," because he sees it as a cutter's cry for help.

Ironically, we had gotten complaints about the song because it's about cutting--and because although it expresses a cutter's emotional pain, it doesn't offer any hope.

After we played the song this morning, we got an e-mail from another listener:

I was one of the people that emailed to question that song being played. The song does not offer hope in Jesus Christ. I know Cindy said that this morning and that was my issue. I know someone who Cuts and she called the song CUT as “her song.” She heard it and said oh that is "my" song. She did not know I knew she cut at that time.

I know there are a lot of people doing this but this song does not offer a way out and almost I feel encourages it because all it says is “I only find peace when I am cut.”

When I emailed before I stated if the song was followed with help for those that are cutting then the song would make an impact on those listening to the song.

A conversation point

Plumb dedicates at least one song on each of her albums to people who are hurting.

“Those songs opened the floodgates for abuse victims to have conversations about what they were going through, and helped to define my mission as an artist. I decided to dedicate one song on each album to people who are hurting, because these songs have let people know they’re not alone, which is the first step to healing.”

She spoke to CNN about "Cut," explaining that it has fulfilled her goal of being a touchstone for conversation about cutting and allowing cutters to open up about their problem.

You can see the video of the CNN interview here.

No Hope Offered?...There Is Hope

I commend Plumb for her compassion and for raising awareness about a very important issue. But I agree with the e-mailer that the song falls short. It doesn't even insinuate that there is hope for the pain or numbness of the cutter. I believe the song could have included a glimmer of that hope without weakening its dramatic message.

If you are a cutter, please know that there is hope in Jesus Christ. Here is a site that explains, simply, how to become a Christian.

Perhaps you already are a Christian. Please know that you can go to God and His Word for the help you need...and please, talk to a trusted counselor about what you're doing. Please seek help--it is out there.

From the testimony of a former cutter:

A person enslaved by a pattern of self-abuse does not have to stay there. It may take a long time to recover. There may be temptations to cut, or even lapses on the path of healing. Teens need to know that "God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when [not if] you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Someone breaking the habit of self-injury can still be hit with destructive thoughts and feelings of worthlessness, but simply re¬membering and believing the truth can go a long way toward setting them free. Addressing the Galatians, the Apostle Paul told God's people to "stand firm and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). For the young cutter, that yoke can feel absolutely overwhelming. But I am living proof that there is hope!

Here are some other resources about cutting:

A Window into a Cutter's World

Help for Cutters or Those Who Self-Injure

Redemption on the Razor's Edge

Hurting Beyond Words: The Silent Agony of Self-Injury (a booklet you can order)


Helping a Teen Cutter

Related Tags: cutting, "Cut," Plumb, self-injury, Tiffany Arbuckle

A dose of Momsense

(Hat tip to Amy of Amy's Humble Musings.) If you're a mom, or if you have one--you're gonna love this!



By the way, that's the delightful Anita Renfroe, who tours with Women of Faith.

Book Trailers--The Wave of the Future?

...and a great idea for your book trailer!

Not long ago, I stumbled on the blog of an author who had "trailers" for her books--just as movies have trailers that give you a preview of what the movie is about.

While I didn't care for this author's genre, I thought the idea was pretty cool. Why not use the Internet to provide cool previews of your book? I wondered if Christian authors were trying this technique. I honestly had not heard of it before.

Just a few days later, I get an e-mail from Christian fiction writer Brenda Coulter.

Brenda writes:

"In the past couple of years authors and publishers have been producing "book trailer" videos in steadily increasing numbers, yet most internet-savvy fiction readers still don't know they exist. The trailer for my soon-to-be-released inspirational romance novel is an excellent example of how some writers are turning their creative skills to making promotional videos that will intrigue readers. I hope you'll consider posting it on your blog."

Check out Brenda's trailer here.

And now my great idea...

If you're an author who is considering creating book trailers, why not add a voice-over? I just happen to be a professional voice-over artist, and my prices are VERY reasonable!

How do you like me now?

Do you like the new look of my blog? I LOVE it! Susie of Bluebird Blogs created this look for me. She is awesome, and I highly recommend her if you're considering a new design. I think it captures the spirit of how I envision my blog. Let me know what you think!

My husband doesn't watch commercials.

That's not my husband in the picture, but it could be--it certainly captures one of his typical poses! He doesn't have a lot of time to watch television, so when he does, I guess he figures he's not going to spend time on commercials. I've told him that all of the power and money and ideas on Madison Avenue are wasted on him.

Well, apparently he's not alone. According to the Associated Press, new research indicates that more than half of the users of digital video recorders (DVR's) fast-forward through commercials while watching prime-time network TV. (Read more here.

OK, commercials can be annoying...and even disturbing. And network TV shows seem to choose their most vulgar clips to use in their promo's. But aren't there a few TV ads that you consider your favorites?

The Billy Graham Library Dedicated

The new Billy Graham library, set to open to the public next Tuesday, was dedicated yesterday.

The 88-year-old evangelist spoke for some seven minutes to the august crowd. But I think one of the sweetest things was the tribute he paid to his ailing wife, Ruth. Ruth Bell Graham has been bedridden for months. Said Graham: "I go in to be with her several times a day...I go in and see her and remember all the great things we've shared together."

He added, his voice heavy with emotion, "I want to honor her, and tell you how much I love her, and tell you what a wonderful woman she has been."

Graham allowed the museum to be built only after he was assured it would be aimed at glorifying God, not Billy Graham.

Is this Nessie?

An amateur scientist claims to have captured the Loch Ness monster on videotape. Watch this Scottish news report.(I must admit I was almost distracted from the story by the lovely Scottish accents of the newscasters!)

Everyone go out and have a blessed and wonderful weekend!

Thirteen Most Common Surnames in Ireland

OK, so it's nowhere near St. Paddy's Day, but being the Irish freak that I am, I thought this would be a fun one...the thirteen most common last names in Ireland. Go here to see the complete list of 40.

Counting down:


13. McCarthy

12. Doyle

11. O'Reilly

10. O'Neill

9. O'Connor

8. Ryan

7. Byrne

6. O'Brien

5. Smith

4. Walsh

3. O'Sullivan

2. Kelly

1. Murphy


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One more thing...enter to win a Dooney and Bourke bag!

The ladies at Pinks and Blues
are giving you a chance to win a Dooney and Bourke handbag and some Victoria's Secret cologne. I don't know about you, but I'm in! Go here to enter...and the deadline is tomorrow (Friday, June 1st) at 8 PM EST.

The emptiness of atheism

Good for 21-year-old Amber Heard. She's figured out, at an early age...actually a few years ago, at 16...that there is no God, and that she (Amber) is all she needs.

The article about Amber caught my eye in today's USA Today. Apparently, the actress has more than a beautiful face and figure going for her--she also has an intelligent mind. (Although signing up to star in the latest teen soap, "Hidden Palms," may not have been the smartest choice--it's being seriously panned by critics already.)

According to the article, Amber became an atheist at 16 when her best friend was killed in a car crash. Admittedly, a tragic occurrence that could even shake the faith of the strongest Christian.

Subsequently, Amber's first serious boyfriend introduced her to the writings of Ayn Rand, the noted Russian-American novelist and atheistic philosopher. Says the formerly Catholic actress, "I've read all her books...I have been obsessed with her ideals. All I've ever needed is myself." (My emphasis.)

So at 21, Amber has arrived at the conviction that all she needs is herself.

At more than twice her age, I marvel at that. As I look back on years of living--years of disappointment, tragedy, trials and loss (amid the joy and happiness, of course)--I can't imagine having lived through any of it with only myself to turn to, trust in, hope in, believe in, cling to. I simply can't imagine such emptiness.

Not knowing much about Ayn Rand, I looked her up on Wikipedia.org. One of things Rand admitted to was "a loathing of Christianity."

I found this quote telling:

"My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute."

It's appalling to look around and see how Christianity is so despised today. Sadly, much of the fault lies with Christians themselves. If we were truly living out Christ and His Word in our lives, if we were really spreading His love around, the hatred against us might not be so vehement.

Yet there will always be those who despise God and everything He stands for, because they don't want a moral absolute in their lives. They want to be free to live as they please, even if that living is immoral or evil.

All I can say is that if the day ever comes when Amber Heard find that she isn't enough for herself, I hope she knows where to look.

Things to tell you...

What a wonderful three-day weekend! Yesterday, the Swanson clan had a Memorial Day picnic at the family farm. It was wonderful. We have family visiting from California who we rarely see, and it was just a fantastic day.

Now, just some interesting things to pass along to you...

Portraits of Women in Western Art

I thought this was rather fascinating. Hat tip to The Evangelical Outpost.

Creation Museum Draws Protest

The new Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky (near Cincinnati) opened Monday to crowds of supporters and protesters.

I must say, the presence of the protesters puzzles me. Why would someone take the time to go out and protest a museum that supports the idea of creationism? I mean, how does that threaten you or anyone else? I mean, just exactly what hangs in the balance if you don't believe in the theory of evolution? I don't get it. And that sort of anger and violence against something biblical is scary.


One Woman's Weight Loss Journey

No other word for this than inspiring.

Cindy Sheehan "Quits"

She no longer wants to be the "public face against the US-led invasion of Iraq."

Most inspiring

USA Today has come out with its list of the 25 Most Inspiring People of the past 25 years. Surprisingly, Terri Schiavo is one of them...although they spelled her name wrong.

Thank the Lord it's FRIDAY!!!!

and, launching Cindy's Book Club!

OK, I know I've been a bad blogger this week. It's just been a really busy week. We have family coming in from California (they're not actually staying with us, but of course you want the house to be in readiness), this is graduation week for the school where my husband is the administrator, we have a wedding to go to tomorrow, etc. But enough excuses. Thankfully, it's Friday, and I'm going to do the Friday Feast:

Appetizer
Name a sound you like to hear.--The sound of my children laughing. They're in their twenties now, but there's no sound that brings me more joy than hearing them laughing and joking together!

Soup
What is your favorite kind of cheese?--I think I'd have to say pepperjack. I love it! I don't often buy it, but I ask for it on my sandwiches at Subway. Provolone, Swiss and Colby-Jack are not far behind...

Salad
Do you sleep late on Saturday mornings? Why or why not?--Is the Pope Catholic? I sleep till around 9 AM usually, because that is the ONLY day of the week that I don't normally have to set an alarm. On weekdays, I have to get up at 4 AM. Sleeping in on Saturday is a much-anticipated luxury for me.

Main Course
When was the last time you forgot something? What was it, and how long did it take to remember it?--Yesterday. I had a bagful of books that I need to return to the library, and I put them in my car, then spaced it completely as I was doing other errands. I remembered not long after I returned home!

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I notice ____how beautiful my daughter is________ when __I look at her___________.


Cindy's Book Club

I've just launched a new blog! It's in conjunction with something cool we're trying this summer here at 101QFL. Check out Cindy's Book Club. I like the look of it!

Have a blessed weekend, everyone...and a Happy Memorial Day. My deepest gratitude to all who have fought for our freedom!

Wordless Wednesday

America's Biblical Views are Declining

A poll by the Barna Research Group indicates that Americans are distancing themselves from traditional biblical beliefs.

From the Barna website:

Many of the nation’s core religious behaviors have changed little over the last decade. However, one area that is undergoing change seems to be what Americans believe - as adults in this country distance themselves from traditional biblical perspectives.

According to the poll:

Most Americans still embrace a traditional view of God, but they are less likely than ever to do so. Currently two-thirds of Americans believe that God is best described as the all-powerful, all-knowing perfect creator of the universe who rules the world today (66%). However, this proportion is lower than it was a year ago (71%) and represents the lowest percentage in more than twenty years of similar surveys.

The poll also found that fewer Americans believe that Jesus was sinless, and 10 per cent fewer of them believe you should share your faith.

Any thoughts?

Deborah Raney's Remember to Forget

My interview with Deborah Raney

Deborah Raney's new novel, Remember to Forget, grabs you from paragraph one and doesn't let you go until you've put the book down. In my case, that included some major sleep deprivation, so absorbed was I in the story of Maggie Anderson.

The book opens in the middle of the action: Maggie is being carjacked while on her way to pick up booze for her abusive live-in boyfriend. When it dawns on her that she has more fear of her boyfriend than of this dangerous situation, Maggie also realizes that this may be her chance to escape.

The journey leads her to small-town Kansas, a hurting but compassionate man, and the redemptive love of God. And the tale of that journey is spun so compellingly that you may find this book, as I did, very hard to put down.

I was able to interview Deborah Raney the other day for my radio show, and it was a terrific experience (once we got past some technical glitches that threatened to de-rail the interview!)



Deborah is charming and gracious. Here, I talk with her about how she came to write a novel in which domestic abuse is a factor:



Advice for aspiring writers

Deb's laughing advice to aspiring writers is, "Don't do what I did!"

Deborah Raney is the fiction-writing equivalent of a starlet that gets discovered on a drug-store stool. Although she had writing aspirations as a young Kansas farm-girl, she put them on the back-burner to raise a family. But when it came time to put her son in college, she knew she would have to do something.

So she prayed, and then she sat down and starting writing her first book, A Vow to Cherish. That book was accepted, published, won the 1997 Angel Award for Excellence in Media, and became a movie starring Ken Howard and Barbara Babcock.

Deb says she went into the writing of the book not realizing that there are terrific books, conferences and other resources aimed at helping and instructing the newbie writer--all things that she now encourages aspiring writers to take advantage of.

She just dove right in--and she's the first to give credit to God for her success.

Go to Deborah Raney's website/blog to find out more about her and her books.

Related Tags: Fiction, Christian fiction, Deborah Raney, Remember to Forget, A Vow to Cherish, domestic violence

13 of my favorite Christian fiction writers...

These are authors whose books I highly recommend...terrific writers, wonderful storytellers. I have more than 13 favorites, but this is a good start! When you have a moment, click on the author's name to go to their website or a page about them.

I have them in alphabetical order:

Randy Alcorn
Terri Blackstock
Linda Hall
Robin Lee Hatcher
Liz Curtis Higgs
BJ Hoff
Angela Hunt
Jane Kirkpatrick
Nancy Moser
Deborah Raney
Francine Rivers
Lisa Samson
Randy Singer

Happy reading!

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**********


Related Tags: Fiction, Christian fiction, Thursday Thirteen, Randy Alcorn, Terri Blackstock, Linda Hall, Robin Lee Hatcher, Liz Curtis Higgs, BJ Hoff, Angela Hunt, Jane Kirkpatrick, Nancy Moser, Deborah Raney, Francine Rivers, Lisa Samson, Randy Singer

Christian Carnival Revisited

The Christian Carnival is up

Not long after I entered the blogosphere, I discovered the Christian Carnival. It's a great way to increase your blog's exposure and hopefully gain readership and what is fondly called "link love." I faded out of participation for a while, but I've decided to rejoin the carnival.

You simply submit a post that you wrote during the last seven days. The best way to find out about the guidelines and to be alerted to info about the Christian Carnival is to join this group. You have the option to get alerts in your e-mail.

Today, the Christian Carnival CLXXII is being hosted by Crossroads: Where Faith and Inquiry Meet. Go check out some of the terrific blogs represented.

If you're a Christian blogger, I strongly urge you to participate. I know many bloggers who have wonderful content, but no one (or very few people) are reading their blogs. This is a way to get your blog noticed, and to connect with other worthy blogs. It's a win-win!

Jerry Falwell home with the Lord

Jerry Falwell passed away today. He was my father's contemporary, and they attended Bible college together in the late 50's. Although my dad always pastored small churches and Falwell presided over a megachurch and ministry, he was always gracious and kind whenever they crossed paths.

If your image of Falwell is the wild-eyed radical portrayed by the mainstream media, (the haters are already high-fiving each other across the blogosphere) you should read this beautiful tribute to the man by writer Angela Hunt.

Hunt writes:

"I have never met a man more unafraid to speak up for what is right. I have never met a man who believed so confidently and completely in the Word of God. I have never met a man more willing to cut up . . . if the time was right."

.

The Family Research Council's Tony Perkins writes:

"A man of conviction, he will be missed for his unique ability to speak the truth even in the face of great opposition. He stood stalwartly for the sanctity of life, marriage, faith, and family.... He was a pioneer whose legacy, marked by courage and candor, blazed the trail for all men and women of conviction to engage--boldly--on the great questions of our day. But he was first and foremost a husband, a father and a pastor."

Read more comments here on the death of Jerry Falwell.

What did you say was the baby's name?

The most popular baby names

I have always been fascinated with names and their meanings. Naming my three children--Jonathan, Justin and Elizabeth--was a task undertaken with great care and forethought. I am still just as pleased with those names as I was when we bestowed them. They're classic, non-trendy, and have stood the test of time. (Although I'm not crazy about the tendency everyone, including me, has of shortening Jonathan and Elizabeth. It's pretty much unavoidable.)

Anyway...hat tip to Evangelical Outpost for blogging about a very cool website, especially for those of you who are still naming babies. It's babynamewizard.com

Quoting the site:

"The Baby Name wizard is the first expert guide to every aspect of baby name style. Created by a name-hunting mom, the book uses ground-breaking research and computer models to pinpoint each name’s image and suggest other promising ideas. From popularity to ethnic origins, religious history to pop culture, the Wizard gives you the straight scoop... and helps you find the perfect name for your family’s unique taste."

The BabyNameWizard site even has a blog, which offers up such fascinating tidbits as this:

"Feeling hemmed in by your choices of Aidans, Cadens, Haydens, Braedens and Jaidyns? Welcome the newest addition to this rhyming family, Zayden -- chosen for 224 American boys in 2006."

Oh, and if you think you're hearing about fewer baby girls named "Katrina," you're right. Apparently the hurricane that devastated the Gulf Coast hasn't been real good for the name's PR.

And a surprise favorite in recent years? Nevaeh. It's "heaven," backwards. Quoting the site:

"It's arguably the biggest name phenomenon of the decade, an out-of-thin air creation that has risen to be the 43rd most popular name for American girls in 2006, more popular than Jennifer."

So what are the most popular baby names in America? According to the Social Security Administration, here are the top choices in 2006:

2006
GIRLS ----BOYS
Emily ----Jacob
Emma -----Michael
Madison --Joshua
Isabella- Ethan
Ava ------Matthew
Abigail --Daniel
Olivia ---Christopher
Hannah ---Andrew
Sophia ---Anthony
Samantha- William

So what did you name YOUR baby? Or what are you planning to name him/her? Let me know in my comments section!
Related Tags: Names, baby names, babynamewizard.com, Evangelical Outpost, parenting

Focus on Christian Fiction

"...how can I--a woman who has been called by God to love and obey him first and foremost--how can I write anything less than a story that illustrates his love for mankind? Or that illustrates the reality of what happens to a life that rejects him?"--Angela Hunt

If you've read this blog very much at all, you know that I am an avid reader and proponent of Christian fiction. Anyone who thinks Christian fiction is inferior to mainstream fiction is seriously mistaken. Some of the finest authors writing today are doing so in the genre of Christian fiction.

But is Christian fiction in danger of getting watered down to the point where no clear Christian message is discernible? Not as long as there are writers like Angela Hunt and BJ Hoff. BJ has often blogged about this topic, and Angela Hunt does so in this post, "How explicit is your world view?" Great stuff.

Don't get me wrong...I don't believe Christian fiction has to whomp the reader upside the head with the gospel message. The best Christian fiction writers reflect Christ in their writings with subtlety and grace, but the message is clear.

The Christy Awards

Some of my favorite Christian authors have been nominated for the Christy Award. You'll recognize the names of Lisa Samson and Liz Curtis Higgs from this blog. The Christy Awards are "named in honor of Catherine Marshall’s novel and of her contribution to growth of the fiction Christians love to read."

By the way, I recently re-read "Christy" after many years. I believe I was a teen-ager the last time I read it. And it was just as fresh and wonderful, many years later. If you've never read it, I highly recommend it.

Other stuff...

--A suburban Chicago substitute teacher showed "Brokeback Mountain" to her class of eighth-graders. The Chicago Board of Education is being sued by the guardian of one of the students. My question: WHAT WAS THAT TEACHER THINKING!?!?! Sheesh!

--Did you have a nice Mother's Day? I did. But Darren Marlar and I were both scratching our heads when a listener called in to let us know that her daughter, who lives out of town, TEXT-MESSAGED "Happy Mommy's Day" to her yesterday. That was it. The mom had the grace to laugh about it, but she pointed out, "Hey, she had the phone in her hand, but didn't take the time to call." Yep...she text-messaged.

--At least Melodee's little daughter had a heartfelt comment for her mom yesterday:

”Mom, I wish you were a fishstick because then I could eat you!”

I love it.

Friday's Feast

Once again, coming to the end of a rather tiring week, and my brain is fried. So I'm doing the Friday Feast, and I welcome you to do it as well!

Oh...the pic is, of course, of my beloved grandson Payton with his uncle, my son Justin. I just love the look on Payton's face here!

Appetizer
Tell about a time when you had to be brave.--Probably when my dad was dying. I guess I didn't think of it as being "brave" per se, but seeing my dad get sicker and the impact it had on my mom and my family was unknown territory for me.

Soup
Which upcoming movie are you excited about seeing?--Wow...I can't think of anything right now!

Salad
Name an item you try to always have on hand.--Bread. And milk. Oh, and some sort of fruit. Right now I have bananas and grapes.

Main Course
Imagine the most relaxing room you can think of. Now describe it!--I would love to be in a room with large windows looking out on the ocean. Big, comfortable easy chairs...a fireplace for the winter and nice lighting when it's dark. But the ocean view...that would be the most relaxing thing. I love the look and sound of the ocean. Too bad I'm landlocked!

Dessert
On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being highest), how spiritual or religious are you?--I'm not sure about putting it on a scale, but my relationship with Christ is essential to my life. I can't imagine living without it. I'm not saying I'm good or saintly in any way...just that my faith is everything to me.

Have a blessed weekend, and Happy Mother's Day!

Thirteen Things I Love About My Mom

(Originally posted May 2006)

In no particular order...

1) Her name, Cynthia, which she passed on to me (much to my appreciation.)

2) Her beautiful green eyes

3) Her smile--it's dazzling and can light up a room

4) The fact that she doesn't dress in "old lady" clothes

5) The way she would defend her kids to the death

6) Her handwriting...it's incredibly neat and pretty

7) Her cooking--no one can fix a roast, or beef stew, or chicken fried steak as good as she can. Don't even tell me about any other chicken fried steak; hers rules.

8) Her genuine love of the Lord

9) The fact that she's a prayer warrior

10) Listening to her sing around the house. She can get so HIGH (vocally, I mean!)!

11) Her wonderful storytelling ability...she really should write a children's book

12) The way she's so disciplined...why didn't I inherit that?

13) The many ways she shows her love to me

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Justin's trip to Texas

My son Justin just returned Monday from a trip to Texas to see his new nephew, Payton. It was the first time he had gotten to meet the baby. I sent my digital camera with him, with instructions to take lots of pictures...and he didn't disappoint! Here are just a few.





Payton in a Cubs outfit bought by his aunt Elizabeth.

Justin also took a few short videos with my camera, and those were priceless. OK...enough grandma-bragging for now, I guess!

Eight Random Things about Me

I've been tagged by the wonderful author Deborah Raney (who I hope to interview soon!) for this Eight Random Things about Me meme. Here goes...

1. I spent two years in Beirut, Lebanon, when I was a child (my parents were missionaries.) The picture you see is of Beirut, and it is remarkably like my first impression of the city from our ship. As a litte girl I was immediately enchanted by the beauty of the place, which was not yet marred by war.

2. In the fifth grade, while in Lebanon, I got to help interview astronaut John Glenn. (I've blogged about the experience here.)

3. My favorite book of all time, not including the Bible which goes without saying, is Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte.

4. I had all three of my children by Cesarean section, and all of my children were born in the 80's.

5. I used to collect Coca-Cola stuff; I still have quite a lot of it, but I'm not currently displaying it in my home, and I'm even thinking about selling it on E-bay.

6. I am quite good at calligraphy.

7. I can do a very good impression of Dolly Parton singing "Jolene."

8. I am a voice-over artist, and my voice can be heard on tutorials for several computer programs, including Windows Vista Media Center.

I'm not tagging anyone, but if you choose to do the meme on your blog, let me know and I'll link to it!

Listen to my blog

It was Rodney Olsen of The Journey who gave me the idea of adding sound to my blog.
Rodney is, like me, a Christian radio personality, although he lives and broadcasts in the Land Down Under. He started using Evoca.com to add sound clips to his blog, and I thought that was a great idea.

So now, when I interview someone for my radio show, I will often add a sound clip or two here. I try to make them short, because I know people don't have the time or patience to hunker down for a long interview. I have no idea how many people actually listen to them. If you ever do or have, would you mention it in my comments section?

Anyway, for your listening pleasure, I'm re-posting a few sound clips from the archives.

Katrina survivor pastor Don Elbourne

From a poignant August 24, 2006 interview with Mississippi pastor Don Elbourne, whose church was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. (2 min. 14. sec.)



9/11 Survivor Sujo John

From a September 6, 2006 interview with 9/11 survivor Sujo John (6 min. 23 sec.):



Author/blogger Justin Taylor

From an October 6th, 2006 interview with author and blogger Justin Taylor about a book he co-wrote with John Piper, Suffering and the Sovereignty of God:



Chip Flaherty of WaldenMedia

From a February 23, 2007 interview with Chip Flaherty of WaldenMedia on bringing Narnia to life on the big screen (1 min. 12 sec):



You can go here to listen to more of my sound clips.


Related Tags: Rodney Olsen, The Journey, Evoca, Christian radio, Don Elbourne, Hurricane Katrina, Sujo John, 9/11, Justin Taylor, John Piper, Chip Flaherty, Walden Media, Chronicles of Narnia, movies, entertainment

A fabulous Mother's Day contest...

Those amazing women at 5 minutes for mom are hosting a fabulous Mother's Day contest. I've entered to win an iPod...I never win anything, but who knows? :) Anyway, you can click on the button to find out more.

I do the Friday Feast

It's been a while since I've done the Friday Feast meme, and I'm plumb out of anything meaningful to blog about, so here goes!

By the way, the pic is of my adorable grandson Payton, courtesy of my dear daughter-in-law. He happens to be in one of the answers, but I take any opportunity I can to show him off!

Appetizer
Name something you would not want to own.--A pet pig. To me, a pig is a pig is a pig, and I just would not want one in my house. (Sorry, pig-lovers!)

Soup
Describe your hair (texture, color, length, etc.).--OK...I have dark brown hair that is now plagued by encroaching gray, so I color it every few months. Right now, it's a little longer than shoulder-length. It's naturally curly and has always been very abundant, but I've noticed it's now thinning a little in my old age. It has always driven me crazy. I tame it now with huge curling irons and straightening irons, but the only time I every felt really great about it was in the 80's. The 80's was all about big, curly hair, and I could do big, curly hair! I have never had a permanent in my life.

Salad
Finish this sentence: I’ll never forget _becoming a granmother the night of January 31st! What an amazing feeling.__________.

Main Course
Which famous person would you like to be for one day? Why?--Hmmm...that's a good one! Maybe Mrs. Bill Gates? Not because I have a crush on Bill, but I'd like to know for at least one day what it feels like to have NO money worries at all! By the way, under no circumstances would I ever want to be a man, even for a minute.

Dessert
Write one sentence about yourself that includes one thing that is true and another thing that is not. --I could easily live without chocolate, and I'm passionate about reading.

(And if you believe that first part of the sentence, I've got some swampland in Florida to sell you!)

Have a blessed weekend, everyone!

13 Famous People named Cindy or Cynthia

1) Model Cindy Crawford
2) Actress Cindy Williams
3) Model (?) Cindy Margolis
4) Actress/dancer Cynthia Rhodes
5) Actress Cynthia Nixon
6) Designer Cynthia Rowley
7) Politician Cynthia McKinney
8) Former Beatle wife Cynthia Lennon
9) Activist Cindy Sheehan
10) Columnist Cindy Adams
11) (Spelling varition) Singer Cyndi Lauper
12) Christian singer Cindy Morgan
13) "Ferris Bueller" actress Cindy Pickett

And a bonus: A song by Tammany Hall called "Cindy"--see this animated version.

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Way-back Wednesday

What I was blogging about a year ago...

Continuing my tradition of delving into the archives of Notes in the Key of Life, here's what I was blogging about a year ago...originally posted May 1, 2006:
*******

"take a permanent vacation. you're blog is boring. you write like your cinderella on acid. or june cleaver. you must wear rose-colored glasses a lot."

That was a comment left on the post in which I had explained that I was taking a blogging break while on vacation. Obviously, someone is not a huge fan of my blog. The same person (hello--you leave your IP address when you leave a comment!) left a few other fairly hostile comments on other posts as well.

I had to laugh. First of all, the "Cinderella on acid" comment was genuinely funny to me. But the other reason is because, as a rule, I'm not the most optimistic person in the world.

I have a lot of Irish in me...and it's common knowledge that it's typically Irish to either be in a jubilant mood or be in the pits of a black depression. Maybe I'm not quite that extreme, but I do battle times of being really down in the dumps.

I honestly didn't realize that my blog comes across quite differently. I guess it can often seem somewhat light and trivial, although I firmly maintain that it is often quite serious as well. I could give you concrete proof in the form of links to various posts, but I won't bother.

Quite frankly, I do find it odd that someone would take the time to leave such hostile messages on a blog. If you don't like reading it, that's your perogative, right? Just click elsewhere.

Anyway...what's so wrong with rose-colored glasses? I'm not talking about denial here--it's foolish to duck reality, of course. But I believe we all know how awful everything is. Why wallow in it? Why not try to put a positive spin on things? What's so wrong with trying to have a good attitude about life? What's so bad about trying to make someone smile?

I guess I think it wouldn't hurt to put on those rose-colored glasses every once in a while.

By the way, if any of you would like to join me in Way-back Wednesday and post something you blogged a year ago this week, let me know and I'll link you here!