Tradition. This word itself is defined as the handing down of statements, beliefs, customs, information, etc. from generation. It is the golden spike that anchors indviduals from all walks of life into a corner 'neath the tent of humanity.
For Auburn fans, that golden spike came under attack recently when Harvey Updyke of Dadeville, Alabama poisoned the 130 year old oak trees at Toomer's corner that since the 1950's, have served as a gathering place for celebrations after team victories. His deplorable acts of terrorism sent waves of shock, anger, and sadness throughout the Auburn family and here's a tidbit as to why:
A staple of tradition, these trees are symbolic of an ardent pride that is deeply-rooted in the hearts of those who cheer for the Orange and Blue. As previously mentioned, these massive live oaks have shaded the intersection of College and Magnolia St--a landmark known to Auburnites as Toomer's Corner--for the past 130 years. They've seen the growth and redevelopment of a war-torn community, the evolution of the little-known Polytechnical Institute into the modern day prestigious Auburn University , two world wars, a plethera of collegiate events, two BCS national championships, and more.
For over half of a century, following a team win, Auburn fans would gather beneath the towering oaks to hurl roll after roll of toilet paper, sending it streaming across their branches, creating the imagery of a white paper wonderland by the time it was all over. I am proud to say that I am one of many who've had the priviledge of participating in this time-honored tradition on more than one occasion. To say the least, it was exciting and exhilerating to take part in. Not for the simple act of rolling a tree, but for purpose of celebrating another Iron Bowl win and other team victories--for the pride in honoring an Auburn family tradition. And I freely admit that part of my allegiance the Auburn Tigers once involved carrying at least two rolls of TP to every game in the event that we won.
On January 27th, a Birmingham-based cyndicated radio talk show received a call from "Al in Dadesville." The caller boasted how he poisoned the trees, dousing the soil around them with lethal amounts of herbicide in retaliation for something a group of classless Auburn fans did nearly 30 years ago. (Seriously???) At the end of the conversation, he signed off with "Roll D--- Tide!" That last statement was the salt in the wound for us Auburn fans and from there on, all we knew was one thing:
A Bama fan did this.
For those of you who live on Planet X and know nothing about American college football, here's a quick bit of information: no, I repeat NO team rivalries are as deep-seated as that which exists between the University of Alabama and Auburn University. Therefore, when one enters the state of Alabama, they must quickly decide which team they are for and STICK WITH IT.
Before I continue, I'd like to note that Auburn's past is also littered with a record of tasteless pranks where Tiger fans rolled Toomer's corner the day revered and beloved Alabama coach, "Bear" Bryant died and, more recently, when someone ducttaped an Auburn football jersey with a #2 on it to his statue. (Though, I will admit the latter of the two was kind of funny.)
Going back to the original story where "Al from Dadeville"proved his insanity, Auburn officials quickly initiated an investigation. This past week, it was confirmed that the soil surrounding the live oaks at Toomer's corner was contaminated with large amounts of Spike 80df and that the trees would likely not survive. Arrested and alleged for this disgusting act of ecoterrorism was Harvey Almon Updyke, 62, of Dadeville Alabama.
Mr. Updyke, seriously, what were you thinking? You may've killed our trees, but your attempts to kill the Auburn spirit have proven to be an epic failure! The only thing you have succeeded in is disgracing your fellow Bama fans and further tarnishing their reputation--which I once thought was impossible.
In response, hoardes of Auburn fans (and some Bama fans alike) took to social network sites and blogs to vent and express their anger. Some even gathered to roll the trees "one last time" to mourn. I would like to encourage Auburn fans to show class and remember that not all Alabama fans are as tacky and despicable as Mr. Updyke. In fact, I pity Alabama fans for even being associated in the slightest extent with this total d-bag.
Finally, let it be said that tradition is tradition is tradition! It is not necessarily something that can be touched, seen, or heard. It is something that plants itself deeply and lives indefinitely in our hearts--just like trees of Toomer's Corner. WAR EAGLE!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Monday, September 20, 2010
Why I am against the proposed "Ground Zero Mosque"
Over the past couple of months, our nation has been divided over the issue of a mosque-slash-community center being built two blocks from Ground Zero in Manhattan. According to CNN.com and estimated 68% of Americans are against it and find it offensive, leaving 32% in favor of such. I count myself as part of the 68% for reasons that might surprise many.
For the record, I do believe that everyone, Muslims included, have the constitutional right to worship and pray however they please. After all, God Himself gave us free will. He wants us to worship Him out of our own free will. Forcing our beliefs on others is not the way to go. Look at the Crusades if you want an example of how successful it would be if we tried to press the issue.
As previously mentioned, I cannot bring myself to support the proposed "Ground Zero" mosque.
For one, there is the obvious reason: it's too close to Ground Zero, too close to where an estimated 2, 752 people were murdered by al-Qaeda terrorists all "in the name of Islam." Sure, the proposed site is two blocks away, but in Manhattan, a city block can consist of one building so you might as well say it's two doors down! In fact, I'd be surprised if the building where they are intending to house the mosque didn't sustain significant damage when the towers fell.
Let's also not forget to mention the people who were either injured or suffered the loss of a family member or friend at Ground Zero. There is a small faction of this group who find themselves in support of this project, stating that it will bring a peaceful healing to the emotional scars and wounds still plaguing our nation after nine years. There is also a large portion of family members and survivors who find this to be an insult, like putting salt on an open wound. This group came to show their opposition at an event held outside the mosque in June. Thousands of survivors, fire fighters, public service officers, and family members who suffered loss and injury on that dark day came to show their disgust and opposition to the project. They carried signs bearing the pictures of their sons, their parents, and siblings with quotes such as "You can build a mosque at Ground Zero when we can build a synagogue at Mecca." Why such an event was never reported by major news agencies and media outlets is beyond me, but it doesn't change the fact that it happened. It doesn't change the fact the fact that our country still hurts.
Finally, and perhaps, most importantly, I question the wisdom behind such a project. As previously mentioned there were close to 3,000 people killed in the World Trade Center attacks. Then there are the thousands of soldiers who've died at the hands of Islam extremists overseas. Add those two together and you have many thousands of families who are hurting and suffering as a result. I find it hard to believe there isn't at least one sadistic psychopath amongst those families and friends who would love nothing more than to avenge their loved ones' death(s). Building a mosque so close to where their suffering all began could only fuel an outraged attack on anyone in that mosque. Who's to say someone won't bomb the place, or fly a plane into that building? I would like to ask the imam who is in charge if he has even questioned this possibility. Even if his intentions are good, does he not care for the safety of the people he serves? Not only that, but if someone does attack the mosque, what kind of feud will that ignite in the way of the terrorists overseas? Will that not give them even MORE reason to hate Americans? Could it not spur yet another al-Qaeda attack on American soil?
With that said, I'll add that Donald Trump has offered to buy the two buildings in hopes to prevent such from happening. Mucho kudos to you, Mr. Trump! On the flipside, liberal film-maker Michael Moore is on a mission to collect a dollar from every American who is in favor of this potential disaster, claiming that he will "outtrump the Trump." Really, Mr. Moore? As previously mentioned 68% of Americans are against this. Even if you succeeded in collecting a dollar from every one of the remaining 32%, Donald Trump would still send you home packing with your tail between your legs faster than any of the first-round losers on The Apprentice!
Now, don't get me wrong. This is nothing against Muslims. I can honestly say that I've never personally met a Muslim I didn't like. If anything, I'm looking out for their safety as well as anyone else's in this. I just don't see where any good can come from building a mosque near Ground Zero.
For the record, I do believe that everyone, Muslims included, have the constitutional right to worship and pray however they please. After all, God Himself gave us free will. He wants us to worship Him out of our own free will. Forcing our beliefs on others is not the way to go. Look at the Crusades if you want an example of how successful it would be if we tried to press the issue.
As previously mentioned, I cannot bring myself to support the proposed "Ground Zero" mosque.
For one, there is the obvious reason: it's too close to Ground Zero, too close to where an estimated 2, 752 people were murdered by al-Qaeda terrorists all "in the name of Islam." Sure, the proposed site is two blocks away, but in Manhattan, a city block can consist of one building so you might as well say it's two doors down! In fact, I'd be surprised if the building where they are intending to house the mosque didn't sustain significant damage when the towers fell.
Let's also not forget to mention the people who were either injured or suffered the loss of a family member or friend at Ground Zero. There is a small faction of this group who find themselves in support of this project, stating that it will bring a peaceful healing to the emotional scars and wounds still plaguing our nation after nine years. There is also a large portion of family members and survivors who find this to be an insult, like putting salt on an open wound. This group came to show their opposition at an event held outside the mosque in June. Thousands of survivors, fire fighters, public service officers, and family members who suffered loss and injury on that dark day came to show their disgust and opposition to the project. They carried signs bearing the pictures of their sons, their parents, and siblings with quotes such as "You can build a mosque at Ground Zero when we can build a synagogue at Mecca." Why such an event was never reported by major news agencies and media outlets is beyond me, but it doesn't change the fact that it happened. It doesn't change the fact the fact that our country still hurts.
Finally, and perhaps, most importantly, I question the wisdom behind such a project. As previously mentioned there were close to 3,000 people killed in the World Trade Center attacks. Then there are the thousands of soldiers who've died at the hands of Islam extremists overseas. Add those two together and you have many thousands of families who are hurting and suffering as a result. I find it hard to believe there isn't at least one sadistic psychopath amongst those families and friends who would love nothing more than to avenge their loved ones' death(s). Building a mosque so close to where their suffering all began could only fuel an outraged attack on anyone in that mosque. Who's to say someone won't bomb the place, or fly a plane into that building? I would like to ask the imam who is in charge if he has even questioned this possibility. Even if his intentions are good, does he not care for the safety of the people he serves? Not only that, but if someone does attack the mosque, what kind of feud will that ignite in the way of the terrorists overseas? Will that not give them even MORE reason to hate Americans? Could it not spur yet another al-Qaeda attack on American soil?
With that said, I'll add that Donald Trump has offered to buy the two buildings in hopes to prevent such from happening. Mucho kudos to you, Mr. Trump! On the flipside, liberal film-maker Michael Moore is on a mission to collect a dollar from every American who is in favor of this potential disaster, claiming that he will "outtrump the Trump." Really, Mr. Moore? As previously mentioned 68% of Americans are against this. Even if you succeeded in collecting a dollar from every one of the remaining 32%, Donald Trump would still send you home packing with your tail between your legs faster than any of the first-round losers on The Apprentice!
Now, don't get me wrong. This is nothing against Muslims. I can honestly say that I've never personally met a Muslim I didn't like. If anything, I'm looking out for their safety as well as anyone else's in this. I just don't see where any good can come from building a mosque near Ground Zero.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
"Lord" isn't just another nickname for Jesus
Matthew 10:39 says "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
We've heard it time and time again that if someone wants to become a Christian and not go to hell, all they have to do is acknowledge that they are a sinner, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, confess & repent of their sins, recite the sinners prayer and get baptized. Of course, all of that is key to being a Christian, but it is really only a portion of it.
First of all, how many of us were truly changed when we made that initial decision? Or better yet, how often do we hear someone say "I got baptized when I was eleven," or "Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!" but their lives tell us otherwise? Sure, they may have honestly intended to be a Christian (or intended to NOT go to hell) when they made that decision. The only sad part is they said the sinners prayer and got baptized before they ever weighed the cost and before they were willing to give Him total lordship. And so often, when the stakes are too high, or the road too narrow, they stray and take the easier worldly path to Hell while still thinking they are saved.
I will admit that I still question the "rightness" of me calling Him "Lord" from time to time. That's because there are times when I know that I haven't really forfeited a part of my life to His righteous jurisdiction. And if I've never surrendered, how can I call Him my "Lord"? The truth is, we'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who can honestly say that they've completely surrendered are without sin. But that in no way justifies sin in our lives.
So what does it mean to be a Christian?
I'd begin by saying that you must be willing to admit you're a sinner in need of a savior, confess and repent of your sin, and then be willing to take up your cross and give Him Lordship.
But what does it mean to give Him Lordship? To be honest, I'm still learning...
Webster's dictionary defines the term Lord as "one having power and authority over others." Living in America, freedom is all we've ever really known. Therefore, the concept of having to submit or surrender to a Lord is quite foreign to us simply because we've never had to exclusively and actively submit our lives to the authority of such or anything like it. Which would explain why so often we LABEL Jesus as our Lord, but never actively give Him that placement or jurisdiction in our lives.
One of the most deceitful concepts blinding us today is that you can say a simple prayer, get baptized, and then you're saved, never having to ever face the reality of eternity in a place called hell. It's so easy to comfort ourselves with the notion that that's all we have to do and we can live our lives however we want to. THAT'S A LIE! Hell is a real place and satan would love to have you believe that you are saved when you aren't.
Don't get me wrong; Yes, Jesus died on the cross so we wouldn't have to pay for our sins. Sure, that part is easy to comprehend. We love the notion of free salvation given to us through His sacrifice. It's why we celebrate His life, death, and resurrection annually. But there is so much more to being a follower of Christ than having your name printed on the roster of a local church each Sunday, or saying a prayer here and there whenever you feel like it. It's a relationship where God, through His word, calls us to LOSE our life in order to gain it! That means, our whole life, our wants, our needs, our desires, our secrets, our sins, our money, our possessions, our EVERYTHING over to the authority of His will so that we may find our new life and salvation through a relationship with His son, Jesus. That's why real Christians are so easy to pick out among the fake ones. They're the ones who've lost it all, given Him Lordship, and have since been transformed to reflect Jesus in everything they do. And it's not just a one-time sacrifice, but a daily one. A follower of Christ has to DIE DAILY. That means taking all your worries, all your wants, and all your possessions and saying "Okay God. It's yours!" every day. Sure, the cost is high, but the reward is even higher!
So why am I writing this blog? It's because I have a growing concern for those around me; the ones who are so convinced that they are saved when, in fact, they aren't. I also have a concern for those who are discouraged in their walk with Christ and need to be reminded that whatever it is, they just need to just give it over to God. And I have a concern for our future generations and pray that they will be taught the true meaning of being a follower of Christ--that they will make their decisions based on truth rather than deceit. Finally, I'm writing this in hopes that anyone who reads it will ask themselves the following:
Am I willing to lose my life in order to gain it? Or is "Lord" just a nickname I've given Jesus?
I pray this helps someone out there as much as God has used it to help me personally.
We've heard it time and time again that if someone wants to become a Christian and not go to hell, all they have to do is acknowledge that they are a sinner, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, confess & repent of their sins, recite the sinners prayer and get baptized. Of course, all of that is key to being a Christian, but it is really only a portion of it.
First of all, how many of us were truly changed when we made that initial decision? Or better yet, how often do we hear someone say "I got baptized when I was eleven," or "Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!" but their lives tell us otherwise? Sure, they may have honestly intended to be a Christian (or intended to NOT go to hell) when they made that decision. The only sad part is they said the sinners prayer and got baptized before they ever weighed the cost and before they were willing to give Him total lordship. And so often, when the stakes are too high, or the road too narrow, they stray and take the easier worldly path to Hell while still thinking they are saved.
I will admit that I still question the "rightness" of me calling Him "Lord" from time to time. That's because there are times when I know that I haven't really forfeited a part of my life to His righteous jurisdiction. And if I've never surrendered, how can I call Him my "Lord"? The truth is, we'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who can honestly say that they've completely surrendered are without sin. But that in no way justifies sin in our lives.
So what does it mean to be a Christian?
I'd begin by saying that you must be willing to admit you're a sinner in need of a savior, confess and repent of your sin, and then be willing to take up your cross and give Him Lordship.
But what does it mean to give Him Lordship? To be honest, I'm still learning...
Webster's dictionary defines the term Lord as "one having power and authority over others." Living in America, freedom is all we've ever really known. Therefore, the concept of having to submit or surrender to a Lord is quite foreign to us simply because we've never had to exclusively and actively submit our lives to the authority of such or anything like it. Which would explain why so often we LABEL Jesus as our Lord, but never actively give Him that placement or jurisdiction in our lives.
One of the most deceitful concepts blinding us today is that you can say a simple prayer, get baptized, and then you're saved, never having to ever face the reality of eternity in a place called hell. It's so easy to comfort ourselves with the notion that that's all we have to do and we can live our lives however we want to. THAT'S A LIE! Hell is a real place and satan would love to have you believe that you are saved when you aren't.
Don't get me wrong; Yes, Jesus died on the cross so we wouldn't have to pay for our sins. Sure, that part is easy to comprehend. We love the notion of free salvation given to us through His sacrifice. It's why we celebrate His life, death, and resurrection annually. But there is so much more to being a follower of Christ than having your name printed on the roster of a local church each Sunday, or saying a prayer here and there whenever you feel like it. It's a relationship where God, through His word, calls us to LOSE our life in order to gain it! That means, our whole life, our wants, our needs, our desires, our secrets, our sins, our money, our possessions, our EVERYTHING over to the authority of His will so that we may find our new life and salvation through a relationship with His son, Jesus. That's why real Christians are so easy to pick out among the fake ones. They're the ones who've lost it all, given Him Lordship, and have since been transformed to reflect Jesus in everything they do. And it's not just a one-time sacrifice, but a daily one. A follower of Christ has to DIE DAILY. That means taking all your worries, all your wants, and all your possessions and saying "Okay God. It's yours!" every day. Sure, the cost is high, but the reward is even higher!
So why am I writing this blog? It's because I have a growing concern for those around me; the ones who are so convinced that they are saved when, in fact, they aren't. I also have a concern for those who are discouraged in their walk with Christ and need to be reminded that whatever it is, they just need to just give it over to God. And I have a concern for our future generations and pray that they will be taught the true meaning of being a follower of Christ--that they will make their decisions based on truth rather than deceit. Finally, I'm writing this in hopes that anyone who reads it will ask themselves the following:
Am I willing to lose my life in order to gain it? Or is "Lord" just a nickname I've given Jesus?
I pray this helps someone out there as much as God has used it to help me personally.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Watermark Church
Yesterday, the church I attend voted to change its name from First Baptist Church Ashford to Watermark Church. Why? It's simple: God wanted us to.
Before going into much further detail, I'd like to give a short, but sweet spiritual background on yours truly. Having practically grown up in the Baptist church, I used to live in this world where you go to church on Sundays and Wednesday nights, you do/say the right things, don't drink or smoke, don't cuss, sit still in church, don't offend others with any radical spiritual behavior, and the list goes on. Then, one day, God rattled the fishbowl I was living in and through the use of an honest friend and devoted parents, made me realize that there's way more to being one of His followers than the simple ritualistic "religious" things that outsiders see us doing. In short, I was no better than any other lost soul out there. I was a sinner who needed a savior and that's that. As a youth, I continued to grow spiritually--again with the help of devoted parents and best friend who was never afraid to boldly rebuke me whenever I needed it. Then, one day, reality slammed me in the face that life's not always easy, especially for us Christians. It didn't matter how good you are. Suddenly, being good wasn't cool. Nobody wanted to date a virgin or hang out with you if you didn't drink or cuss. Frustrated and so desparate to fit in, I took a detour on the wayward path where I stayed for many years. Sure, I'd come to church sporadically and usually for the wrong reasons. I'd pray here and there if I needed something. But inwardly, I knew I wasn't where I needed to be in my walk with Christ. No matter how far I strayed, I couldn't escape that quiet voice calling to me, beckoning me to come back. It was like God was calling down to me from the mountain tops where our relationship was once at its peak. One great thing about God is He'll never leave you--even when you've left Him. I continued to distract myself from that small voice until finally, God knocked me upside the head with a simple question that went something like this:
If you died today, who will be able to say they knew me or came closer to me because of you or anything you did?
I didn't have an answer. I didn't have an excuse. I was simply too prideful.
Now I know that ultimately, we can't blame ourselves for another's rejection of the gospel, but still my mind often wonders what about the chances I've had time and time again to witness to someone who's lost? Why didn't they deserve the chance to know Christ? Did He not die for them too? Am I that self-absorbed or close-minded that I can't take that risk to speak about our beliefs?
How does this have anything to do with First Baptist changing its name? Well, it was the conviction I felt by that question that led me to seek out a church to join and start attending regularly. That's when I came to First Baptist and I have been blessed beyond measure ever since.
Again, how does this tie into the subject of changing our church's name?
My story is just another one of many lives who've been touched by or changed through God's work at First Baptist. Change itself is never easy. It was terrifying for me to join a relatively large church where I knew only one other member. It was even more horrifying having to meet new people and begin serving in Vacation Bible School and choir and ultimately Upstreet. But as time progressed, I came to know and love so many people. God opened doors for me and began to bless me with people I could turn to in tough situations and have them pray with me. And if changing our name to Watermark will open more doors of opportunity for others to experience what I have, then I'm all for it. God is on the move! The world around us has changed and will continue to change as it always has. As followers of Christ, it is our calling to be ready to face the challenges of a growing diverse society and embrace those who are different, love those who've never been loved, and be willing to flex our spiritual muscles and grow to accomodate a newer, stronger body of believers.
Before going into much further detail, I'd like to give a short, but sweet spiritual background on yours truly. Having practically grown up in the Baptist church, I used to live in this world where you go to church on Sundays and Wednesday nights, you do/say the right things, don't drink or smoke, don't cuss, sit still in church, don't offend others with any radical spiritual behavior, and the list goes on. Then, one day, God rattled the fishbowl I was living in and through the use of an honest friend and devoted parents, made me realize that there's way more to being one of His followers than the simple ritualistic "religious" things that outsiders see us doing. In short, I was no better than any other lost soul out there. I was a sinner who needed a savior and that's that. As a youth, I continued to grow spiritually--again with the help of devoted parents and best friend who was never afraid to boldly rebuke me whenever I needed it. Then, one day, reality slammed me in the face that life's not always easy, especially for us Christians. It didn't matter how good you are. Suddenly, being good wasn't cool. Nobody wanted to date a virgin or hang out with you if you didn't drink or cuss. Frustrated and so desparate to fit in, I took a detour on the wayward path where I stayed for many years. Sure, I'd come to church sporadically and usually for the wrong reasons. I'd pray here and there if I needed something. But inwardly, I knew I wasn't where I needed to be in my walk with Christ. No matter how far I strayed, I couldn't escape that quiet voice calling to me, beckoning me to come back. It was like God was calling down to me from the mountain tops where our relationship was once at its peak. One great thing about God is He'll never leave you--even when you've left Him. I continued to distract myself from that small voice until finally, God knocked me upside the head with a simple question that went something like this:
If you died today, who will be able to say they knew me or came closer to me because of you or anything you did?
I didn't have an answer. I didn't have an excuse. I was simply too prideful.
Now I know that ultimately, we can't blame ourselves for another's rejection of the gospel, but still my mind often wonders what about the chances I've had time and time again to witness to someone who's lost? Why didn't they deserve the chance to know Christ? Did He not die for them too? Am I that self-absorbed or close-minded that I can't take that risk to speak about our beliefs?
How does this have anything to do with First Baptist changing its name? Well, it was the conviction I felt by that question that led me to seek out a church to join and start attending regularly. That's when I came to First Baptist and I have been blessed beyond measure ever since.
Again, how does this tie into the subject of changing our church's name?
My story is just another one of many lives who've been touched by or changed through God's work at First Baptist. Change itself is never easy. It was terrifying for me to join a relatively large church where I knew only one other member. It was even more horrifying having to meet new people and begin serving in Vacation Bible School and choir and ultimately Upstreet. But as time progressed, I came to know and love so many people. God opened doors for me and began to bless me with people I could turn to in tough situations and have them pray with me. And if changing our name to Watermark will open more doors of opportunity for others to experience what I have, then I'm all for it. God is on the move! The world around us has changed and will continue to change as it always has. As followers of Christ, it is our calling to be ready to face the challenges of a growing diverse society and embrace those who are different, love those who've never been loved, and be willing to flex our spiritual muscles and grow to accomodate a newer, stronger body of believers.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Welcome!
Welcome to Jennifer's Random Chat Cafe where the entertainment news and personal fun facts are served fresh daily!
I wouldn't be the proper hostess if I didn't start off by introducing you to the Hollywood chatter platter that includes a healthy dose of Hollywood news mixed with some random information and revelations I've received throughout the day:
* Water for Elephants, a film based on the Sara Gruen novel by the same name, is due to hit theatres April 15th 2011. I'm so there! The film stars Robert Pattinson (swoon!) alongside oscar winners Christolph Waltz, and Reese Witherspoon as the novel's three main characters, Jacob, August, and Marlena. If you have a heart for adventure and a zeal for romantic drama, I highly suggest you read the book!
* I saw the move, Charlie St. Cloud a few weeks ago. Despite the loveliness of Zac Efron's cerrulean eyes and pefectly sculpted physique gracing the screen every five seconds, I must say the book is by far much better than the film. Critics at http://www.ew.com/ also agree.
* Breaking Dawn parts one and two, the final installments of the beloved Twilight franchise, are set to be filmed in Vancouver and Lousiana this October. I'm thinking it's time for a little roadtrip New Orleans...
And as for any personal deets or fun facts, I'll start off with a course of baby news for ya:
* My husband, Chris, and I are pregnant with our first child, Isabella Grace (Izzie). Her debut is scheduled for December 12th. Knowing our luch, the little diva could be fashionably late. No matter when she arrives, she's already the jewel of our eyes and the captor of our hearts.
* An article that I read at http://www.cnn.com/ around Mother's Day showed Isabella as being the most popular name for the year 2010. Many are attributing that to the success of the Twilight franchise where the heroine's name is Bella. With that said, I would like to make it known that my child's name is neither derived from a fantastic saga, nor is it a family name. Chris and I simply liked the name Isabella and decided nickname our daughter "Izzie".
Finally, in my professional-slash-amateur life...
* I am in the process of working on a novel that I've been writing and polishing for the past year. Many thanks to those of you who've read the rough (and I do mean ROUGH) drafts and offered your input. If and when any progress is made toward publication, I will certainly remember you and the work you put into steering me in the right direction.
This first post is simply bits of information I cared to share with anyone who cared to read it. As time passes and talent is perfected, I hope to be able to share more interesting facts and news with you all. Again, thanks for stopping by!
I wouldn't be the proper hostess if I didn't start off by introducing you to the Hollywood chatter platter that includes a healthy dose of Hollywood news mixed with some random information and revelations I've received throughout the day:
* Water for Elephants, a film based on the Sara Gruen novel by the same name, is due to hit theatres April 15th 2011. I'm so there! The film stars Robert Pattinson (swoon!) alongside oscar winners Christolph Waltz, and Reese Witherspoon as the novel's three main characters, Jacob, August, and Marlena. If you have a heart for adventure and a zeal for romantic drama, I highly suggest you read the book!
* I saw the move, Charlie St. Cloud a few weeks ago. Despite the loveliness of Zac Efron's cerrulean eyes and pefectly sculpted physique gracing the screen every five seconds, I must say the book is by far much better than the film. Critics at http://www.ew.com/ also agree.
* Breaking Dawn parts one and two, the final installments of the beloved Twilight franchise, are set to be filmed in Vancouver and Lousiana this October. I'm thinking it's time for a little roadtrip New Orleans...
And as for any personal deets or fun facts, I'll start off with a course of baby news for ya:
* My husband, Chris, and I are pregnant with our first child, Isabella Grace (Izzie). Her debut is scheduled for December 12th. Knowing our luch, the little diva could be fashionably late. No matter when she arrives, she's already the jewel of our eyes and the captor of our hearts.
* An article that I read at http://www.cnn.com/ around Mother's Day showed Isabella as being the most popular name for the year 2010. Many are attributing that to the success of the Twilight franchise where the heroine's name is Bella. With that said, I would like to make it known that my child's name is neither derived from a fantastic saga, nor is it a family name. Chris and I simply liked the name Isabella and decided nickname our daughter "Izzie".
Finally, in my professional-slash-amateur life...
* I am in the process of working on a novel that I've been writing and polishing for the past year. Many thanks to those of you who've read the rough (and I do mean ROUGH) drafts and offered your input. If and when any progress is made toward publication, I will certainly remember you and the work you put into steering me in the right direction.
This first post is simply bits of information I cared to share with anyone who cared to read it. As time passes and talent is perfected, I hope to be able to share more interesting facts and news with you all. Again, thanks for stopping by!
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