If you are a news junkie like me, then you will love this website – there are maps of the whole world, broken down into sections.  You click on dots on the map, and you can see the front page of the newspaper for that region.  In many cases, you can get the pdf file of the entire newspaper!  The site is updated every day, so you can see current headlines.  I really like to read news from all over the country, especially places where I use to live, like Chicagoland, Lincoln Nebraska, and Rockford Illinois.  And it’s really interesting to see headlines from the entire world!  (even though I can only read the ones in English!)

Here is a link to the United States headlines map – enjoy! Follow links on the site to access news taking place on the entire planet!

There are three shows being presented by area theatres that pique my interest.  First on the list is the Village Players little three person cast play, Miracles.  I was loaned a copy of the script and I read it twice.  It is very emotional and thought-provoking with a few moments of lightheartedness.  Definitely would be the most challenging show ever.  It does have a little singing in it for the one male character and the teenage girl.

ACT is performing Seussical in July.  I discussed this with my mentor and we both agreed that while it would definitely be fun, it would also be a cakewalk.  It has been years since I last was in an ACT’s production of Fiddler on the Roof and would like to one day return to their neck of the woods.

I have nothing really against Oklahoma! (the final show on the horizon) but it has been done so many times in HIGH SCHOOLS.  I’m sorry but I really want to challenge myself with something outside my safety zone.  But I will audition for it if neither of the other two shows pan out.  Plus, being the last show to audition for, I wouldn’t have any other choice… trying out for no show is not an option!

On Facebook
Why do I realize that my daughters are using movie quotes in their facebook statuses and almost nobody else does?

Why did I start using movie quotes as facebook statuses?

Why can’t people realize we are doing this even after we told them we were?

On Numbers
Does anybody else miss comparing your count of posts with our other Tangents’ bloggers? I know how many posts I have, but don’t see the other numbers anymore. 🙁

I wonder how many days I will have actual posts. This month I’ve had at least one a day. But by the time this is read by folks, there may be two cheats 😉

Did you realize that 11:58 doesn’t look much different than 12:02 when you look outside and not at the clock.

I’ve lived more than 1/2 of a century. That is a number right?

This post has one hundred fifty words, by the word count.

I’ve known that I have some talented daughters. Writing, art, sewing, singing and maybe a little acting thrown in there have all been some of the talents displayed by one or more daughters. Not that they would make careers of this, unless they start pushing in that direction, but a bit of talent is shown.

Now, since I’ve joined facebook (shudder!!!), I’ve been made aware of my niece’s amazing talent. I wouldn’t normally do this, but I need to share her link. Check the work of Veronica Leigh on Redbubble.

I’ve put in a request for some coffee cups of some of her pictures. Guess what Christmas presents will be in 2010. I’ve got it all planned out now.

The last few weeks have not been a good one if you were young or were related to some figure in the public eye of the 1980s.  First, it was Andrew Koenig (of Growing Pains fame).  Last week, Marie Osmond’s young son was found dead.  Yet another blow in her long list of tragic events.  And this morning, yet another teen figure gone astray: Corey Haim… one of the famous “Corey duo” of such 80s teen fare as The Lost Boys, License to Drive, and Dream a Little Dream.  Sadly, Corey was always one who seemed to live life on the wild side and it finally caught up with him.

It just seems so tragic every time I hear something like this in the news.  They may not have been A-list stars but many seem to fall under the allure of the old Hollywood glamour and glitz instead of focusing on their God given talent.  Even more tragic is the reality that many fail to recognize or plain don’t want to realize the grip that the “glamorous life” has on them until it is far too late.

I’m not sure what influence events such as this have on the public at large but someday you would think that  people in similar situations would look at the tragedies and seek some form of help in dealing with it.  Turning to friends, family, or God Himself for guidance.  A bit of “tough love” may even help.

So, to all the Lost Ones out there, I would hope and pray that they look at these recent events  learn from them, and may break free from the demons that seemingly control them.

I often wonder if I will ever get lost in my thoughts and not be able to find the way out. I tend to think about some strange things when I should be getting some sleep. I have a feeling that this is the main cause of all my sleep problems. I just can’t turn my brain off long enough for sleep to come easily. I tend to stay away until I can no longer function.

Maybe my body clock doesn’t conform with the standard 24 hour day. Maybe I’m really a night person and should be working a 2nd or 3rd shift job. Maybe I just think too much. Hmmm I need to think on this.

I’ve worked both 2nd and 3rd shift jobs, but I had the same problem with sleeping. I never seemed to get enough until the days I had off. Sleeping late wasn’t what I intended to do, but I slept late because that gave me my 8 or 9 hours of sleep.

I’ve been involved in a sleep study, but never one that would allow me to ‘set’ my body’s clock. I think that may be an interesting study. I don’t think I would mind finding that out. That could explain the times I feel like sleeping and those times that I don’t. I’ll have to keep that in mind if I ever see that sort of study in the area.

And of course I could think too much. The various ramblings on this blog and other places tend to show I have a lot on my mind. I could talk about all subjects, but there are a couple that I stay away from just because I really don’t want any conflict on this blog. Maybe I should start another blog or two under other assumed names for controversial subjects. Now that may be able to clear a thought or two from my mind to let me sleep.

Well… today was eventful.  The H.S. Boys Basketball team is in the District finalS for the first time since 2001.  The final will be Friday night at the “Grand Canyon.”  This made for a very UNeventful evening at work.  From 7pm-9pm, I probably could count the number of customers I had on one hand.  I then walked home and listened to the final quarter of the District semi-final.

About 9.30, I traveled to B-town and took a nice long walk with Megan.  About an hour and 15 minutes after, we made our way back.  As we passed another friend’s house, we wagered who would be bold enough to go and knock on the window.  After we both thought better of it, I did make a loud “HALOOOOO” sound, but apparently not loud enough.  So by 11.15, we made it back and the light misty rain made it wet enough that it was time to wrap it up.  Fun time and good exercise walking at a nice, brisk pace.  Good companion who kept up with me at what others have often complained is too fast a clip.

GO BULLDOGS!

…what do you do? Someday I would like to know the answer to that question. Me, I’m simply avoiding all the stuff I need to do. I’m sure that puts my ability to got to that answer a day or two behind, but it is what I want to do now.

Maybe that is the answer. Things don’t have to be calm to find that time to do what you would do when they were calm. Doing them when life is hectic is the exact time to do them. Yes, finish those things that are a priority. Pay the bills, feed the family, get the things that must be done out of the way. And then for a minute, an hour, a day, or weeks even, do what you would do when things are calm. Relax, enjoy and recharge yourself.

For years, I’ve held back on taking time away from a perceived ‘must do’ list and didn’t do some things I would have wanted to. That put me to a point where I was not doing things that I should have done. So some time in the near future, I will schedule some time for me.

I may use this to do some things around here that I should have done years ago. I may do things that would just be relaxing. But it will be what I want to do. I’ll let you know when I force things to calm down. Then I will know what I would do…

As I’ve mentioned before, I belong to a Christian moms’ group called MOPs (Mothers Of Preschoolers), and I enjoy our monthly meetings immensely.  Every month, we receive a handout with a little essay that contains advice or words of wisdom from one mom to the rest of us.  I found this month’s article beautiful and thought-provoking, and things like this help motivate me and give me strength to get through some of those really tough days of being a mom.  Hope you like it!

Tending to Our Flowers

by Katherine Craddock

So it is with all of our children – their glory is like the flowers of the field.  For each generation, God has prepared an entire garden of flowers.  Some, like tiny crocuses, tulips, and hyacinths, bloom early in their lives.  Their soft beauty, strong resilience, and beautiful fragrance give us a reminder of hope and resurrection – then sweetly melt away.

Other children burst forth with wild, exuberant colors in their elementary and teen years.  Some will blossom and bear fruit later, in the middle of their lives.  Other cut flowers will fill our homes with color and fragrance and life until they are suddenly gone.

There are loud, attractive summer sun flowers like echinacea, Russian sage, daisies, and black-eyed Susans.  There are thorny briers that burst into rose blooms, and quieter shade plants like hosta and hydrangea who bring beauty and peace to the darkness.

And last of all, there are the plants that have been patiently and steadily growing all along, looking like nothing much.  Entire seasons of life can pass before these flowers find their voice.  But when they do, the asters and sedums, chrysanthemums and lilies remind us of the beauty that was and is to come.

Who can say which has more beauty or value, the crocus or the rose?  Each, when lovingly tended, is unique in its own strength and has no need to be compared.

So whether your daughter walks at 9 months or 19 months; whether your wild son behaves as early as Preschool or not until after college, be encouraged that every child – “gifted”, “disabled”, or “normal”, will bloom with great beauty in the Gardeners’ time.

“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.” – Isaiah 40:6

Before the newest in the endless stream of Robin Hood tales hits the big screen this summer (the first film featuring the outlaw dates back to 1908… the character is hundreds of years old), I recently revisited the 1991 Kevin Costner version Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.  Lots of memories dating back to the summer going into my senior year in high school. I of course saw the movie in the theatre.  I really liked it but found some bits a little unnerving.  Would Maid Marian, a woman of noble blood during the Crusades of King Richard the Lionhearted really hit a man “below the belt?”

I vividly recall the remarkably gifted character actor Alan Rickman in his delightfully delicious turn as the Sheriff of Nottingham.  From the original Die Hard to the continuing Harry Potter saga as Prof. Snape, Rickman shines in the most seemingly villainous of roles.  Anyone who orders the cancellation of Christmas is pure evil!  Was the birth of Christ celebrated in the 12 Century?  Who cares anyway?  Too much digging into a movie is bad for the enjoyment, in my opinion.

Back to the school year.  After the success of the Bryan Adams hit from the soundtrack, the choir sang “(Everything I Do), I Do It For You.”  Along with “Unchained Melody” from Ghost, the two songs made for a nice duo of songs from the movies.  The score by Michael Kamen is perfect!

The home video version is definitely in need of an upgrade.  The sound on the DVD I received from Netflix was not all that great even coming from the Blu-Ray conversion.  Maybe it will receive an upgrade prior to the new film.  Or I could watch “Robin Hood Daffy.”

Here’s the trailer for the new movie: