Being Crazy Aunt MJ

Is almost like Being John Malcovich, but slightly more fun. Only because it's one of those things that I can latch on to for a few hours and then safely watch from a distance later.

This is one of the more interesting photos of us taken today. I have no idea how middle sis managed to get this almost perfectly framed shot of the tops of our heads (I know she's not that tall).

We had a pretty fun afternoon at the IMA playing in one of the new contemporary installations. If you have ever wanted to experience the ball bin at a fast food playroom, but felt like you might be a little overgrown, you have an opportunity at the IMA. It's built just for adults to play like little kids. Plus, it's kind of fun to see a museum guide wearing booties. It's worth the newly imposed admission fee. According to the IMA site, Ernesto Neto's site specific installation is only going to be there until February 12.

May all of your new year's wishes come true and may tomorrow's hangover be minor. Have a fantabulous new year!

Scherenschnitte

I had an excellent day off from work today. With a handful of vacation days to burn before the end of the year, I took today and Friday off to veg and have a few unplanned urban adventures.

I crossed one major accomplishment (for me) off of the list today when I finally took two boxes of books to the Library Services Center. (Thrilling photo at left for documentation purposes.) I figure that I donated about 50 books that I'd picked up from library book sales over the years. The 2006 schedule can be found here. I can't recommend them enough. Deals galore and all proceeds go to the library foundation.

After dropping off books, I headed to the library-library and picked up a few more. I'm a sucker for the events bookmarks and the community guides spread throughout the library and picked up a few of those too.

One event that looks particularly interesting is a free Scherenschnitte workshop. There are 12 free workshops planned from February - May at different branches around the city. Not familiar with the craft, but interested in most things German, I did a quick google search and found: Scherenschnitte ("sheer-en-shnit") is a German folk art that has existed for centuries. It is the art of cutting an image into paper, generally cutting away the background and leaving the shape of the paper to form the desired images.

Also among my finds is the Mayor's Garden Plots program near Eagle Creek. If I can manage to get a plot reserved, I'll be a happy camper with very dirty hands this summer.

P.S. - I'm the proud new owner of a digital camera as of X-mas morning, so expect an occasional photo around here. :) Thanks again, P and JP.

We Are A Circle, We Are

We are a circle we, are... We are a circle, we are one...

I went to an awesome event last night for the Winter Solstice. A little heavy on the tambourine for about five minutes, but otherwise, I think I've found a "church" that deserves a repeat visit. :)

May all of your holidays be merry and bright.

I first ran across Belief-O-Matic almost exactly five years ago when I stayed home from Mass when at home-home. At that time in my life, I was searching for some method of worship/meditation/ritual to make me feel like everything was going to work out in a bigger picture kind of way. It was a pretty low point in my life and I was at witt's end. I did a little searching and found the survey. Five years ago, I was ranking at 100% Neo-Pagan (followed closely by Unitarian Universalism), which essentially is 100% whatever you want to believe. Mikal at Belicove recently linked to Belief-O-Matic and I just took the survey again. My results:

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Neo-Pagan (97%)
3. New Age (92%)
4. Liberal Quakers (89%)
5. Theravada Buddhism (84%)
6. Mahayana Buddhism (84%)
7. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (83%)
8. Secular Humanism (72%)
9. New Thought (71%)
10. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (67%)
11. Taoism (67%)
12. Scientology (64%)
13. Jainism (58%)
14. Bahá'í Faith (57%)
15. Reform Judaism (57%)
16. Hinduism (56%)
17. Orthodox Quaker (53%)
18. Sikhism (49%)
19. Nontheist (46%)
20. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (39%)
21. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (33%)
22. Orthodox Judaism (30%)
23. Jehovah's Witness (27%)
24. Seventh Day Adventist (25%)
25. Islam (21%)
26. Eastern Orthodox (13%)
27. Roman Catholic (13%)

Poetic Justice

This press release, my friends, rocks. What fun it must be for Adam Benson and Michael Robbins to pitch this release to the media. (Like they had to.) :) - Thanks, Steph and, of course... Thank you for making me smile, Congressman Dingell (and/or Adam and Michael).

Come on Over to My House

The scrabble game is going well. We're still playing and I'm still (barely) ahead.
I found this lovely little personality quiz at The Presurfer today. You are instructed to draw a house (mine was very simple) and answer 10 questions. It then spits out a little personality profile.

If you're so inclined, please feel free to build your little house on the same street as my little house.

This just in... I have received a 30 second video that is sure to make me smile no matter how craptastic tomorrow might be. Being Crazy Aunt MJ rocks. No poop. Just contagious laughter.

Full of Grace

Well, hello there.
Long time since I posted...
Let's see what's new around here.

I just started an online game of Scrabble with my middle sister. It looks like it could be interesting, if not time consuming. With each turn, we are each emailed an update. So this game could take several days.

Rumor has it that the pope did away with limbo for the dead babies. I'm intrigued as I didn't know that officially dead babies "went" anywhere to begin with. I guess I really don't think about dead babies all that much.

I attended last week's HRO meeting at the city/county building. Tonight's meeting was to be held from 5 - 6:30 and I wouldn't have been able to make it to more than 20 minutes of the meeting, so I decided against it all together. The vote will take place soon. Hopefully the ordinance will be passed and surrounding counties will take note and head in the same direction.

One of my good friends is spending a month in Costa Rica. I'm hopeful that she'll be needing a ride home from the airport on her return after the holidays. A short visit could be just the thing I need to pick me up from the post-holiday icks that have already started to set in. The "Feed The World" song was on the radio this morning and I have had it stuck in my head much of the day with personalized lyrics... Do I know it's Christmastime at all? Doesn't feel like it.

And... I am coming to terms that either:
A- The world is out to get me.
B - I need to learn to accept criticism.
Most likely a combo... heavily weighted toward the latter.

I need something substantial to look forward to.