So last night, we went to see RUSH in concert! It was amazing. Here's why.
1. RUSH fans are very devoted. The arena was SOLD OUT! There were people from all over the place there. And all of them were hardcore. They knew the words to the songs. They could drum the beats. The were wearing RUSH t-shirts. I counted 86 while we waited for our dinner and walked to the arena. Then I stopped counting because once inside the arena, there was no way for me to continue counting.
2. RUSH is a band who enjoy making music together! There are three of them (if you are uninformed. shame on you.) and they have been in the band since high school. Over 30 years of working together and touring. All the original members! How rare is that? They are getting older, but still rock out! AND they have fun! You could tell they enjoyed playing together. It was nice to see.
3. They are ridiculously talented! Alex Lifeson plays main guitar, and WOW. He is absolutely amazing! Geddy Lee, the singer and bassist, sings really high. If you've ever heard him, you'd know it. He was still hitting some high notes last night! I mean, he has had to change some stuff, because he is getting older, but what a strong voice! And then, my favorite, Neil Peart. The best drummer in the world. He is very focused, but also relaxed when he plays. And his drum set is HUGE! It swivels around so he can play even more stuff. He had a 20 minute drum solo covering about 4 different genres of music. AMAZING!
4. Their videos were funny. Not stupid annoying boy humor funny, not gross funny, not provocative funny, just FUNNY! I appreciated them.
It was a great experience. So much fun despite me losing our tickets. Wait, what? You lost the tickets? Of course I did, do you even know me? I lose absolutely everything. Luckily Ticketmaster has a plan for that. Way to go ticketmaster!
Lessons learned: RUSH is the best band ever. Always order tickets to be at will call.
Monday, April 4
Sunday, February 13
The Collective Noun for Turkeys is a Gang.
I live in a duplex right in front of some woods. There are many creatures in this wood. We have seen deer, possums, rabbits, and TURKEYS. In fact, the day my parents and I went to look at the house, there was a gang of these turkeys strutting around the parking lots!
If you have never had the pleasure of meeting a wild turkey, here's a peek.
Ok, so we move into the house in June and on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, we see a huge gang of turkeys! We counted. 29 big fat gangsta turkeys! Just strutting around like they owned the place. I told them that they needed to hide so they wouldn't be eaten, but they did not care.
Fast forward to the next summer. I am trying to sleep in, because its summer. I have a hard enough time sleeping in as it is. I actually just got up from a nap to type this because once my brain gets going you just can't get it to shut up. So, trying to sleep, and I hear this loud THWACK sound! It sounded like someone was slapping a plastic trash can by my front door. I figured that was unlikely, as I live surrounded by the elderly... So I go downstairs, peek outside, and two turkey gang members are smacking my door with their wings! What did I ever do to them??? I opened the door to look at them, which intimidated my dog, and they strutted away.
This morning, it is beautiful outside! Warmth and sunshine have broken through the persistant winter Narnia-ness that had been hanging over middle Tennessee. So I am taking Moe for a walk and I see something red out of the corner of my eye. I turn and see two turkeys by a neighbor's front door. One turkey is leaning down to look in a window, and the other turkey is guarding the front door! What the what? They are seriously spying on this house. What in the world would cause a turkey to do this? They are gang members, I tell you! So, I continue around a corner, and when we walk back by, there are three of them! In turn, they each raise their wings, as if to give the all clear signal, and strut off together.
These turkeys boggle my mind. The new collective noun for turkeys is a gang.
If you have never had the pleasure of meeting a wild turkey, here's a peek.
Ok, so we move into the house in June and on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, we see a huge gang of turkeys! We counted. 29 big fat gangsta turkeys! Just strutting around like they owned the place. I told them that they needed to hide so they wouldn't be eaten, but they did not care.Fast forward to the next summer. I am trying to sleep in, because its summer. I have a hard enough time sleeping in as it is. I actually just got up from a nap to type this because once my brain gets going you just can't get it to shut up. So, trying to sleep, and I hear this loud THWACK sound! It sounded like someone was slapping a plastic trash can by my front door. I figured that was unlikely, as I live surrounded by the elderly... So I go downstairs, peek outside, and two turkey gang members are smacking my door with their wings! What did I ever do to them??? I opened the door to look at them, which intimidated my dog, and they strutted away.
This morning, it is beautiful outside! Warmth and sunshine have broken through the persistant winter Narnia-ness that had been hanging over middle Tennessee. So I am taking Moe for a walk and I see something red out of the corner of my eye. I turn and see two turkeys by a neighbor's front door. One turkey is leaning down to look in a window, and the other turkey is guarding the front door! What the what? They are seriously spying on this house. What in the world would cause a turkey to do this? They are gang members, I tell you! So, I continue around a corner, and when we walk back by, there are three of them! In turn, they each raise their wings, as if to give the all clear signal, and strut off together.
These turkeys boggle my mind. The new collective noun for turkeys is a gang.
Tuesday, January 25
Just some anecdotes
"Mrs. Person, my neck hurts." (she means throat... she tells me this daily.)
"What is a hotdog?"
"You know, a weeeenie. Like a weeenie. With a bun. The bun opens on one side and you put the weeeenie in it!"
"Oh...." (exit Mrs. Person from the room- cracking up)
"knock knock"
"who's there?"
"bat"
"Bat who?"
"bat who! That's right!" (i have no idea why that was funny...)
"Mrs. Person, how's your day been yesterday?" (this child asks me this almost everyday...)
a student was standing at my desk watching me, I turned and asked "What do you need?"
"A hug!!"
"We have pictures! And we are going to put them on our shirts!" (one child's explanation of our self portraits in which we are drawing our heads and torsos, and gluing photos on the shirt part...)
"Valentimes" (all of my kids during our Valentines' Day program practice)
child: "The art teacher's going to get pregnant!"
me: "I think you mean she IS pregnant and is GOING to have a baby... "
"You know Jesus? He looks into our hearts. He lives in the sky and he can see us. And sometimes he eats grass."
"He eats grass? Why?"
"I don't know, we haven't gotten to that part of the book yet."
Just wanted to remember why I love my job. My kids are the best!!
"What is a hotdog?"
"You know, a weeeenie. Like a weeenie. With a bun. The bun opens on one side and you put the weeeenie in it!"
"Oh...." (exit Mrs. Person from the room- cracking up)
"knock knock"
"who's there?"
"bat"
"Bat who?"
"bat who! That's right!" (i have no idea why that was funny...)
"Mrs. Person, how's your day been yesterday?" (this child asks me this almost everyday...)
a student was standing at my desk watching me, I turned and asked "What do you need?"
"A hug!!"
"We have pictures! And we are going to put them on our shirts!" (one child's explanation of our self portraits in which we are drawing our heads and torsos, and gluing photos on the shirt part...)
"Valentimes" (all of my kids during our Valentines' Day program practice)
child: "The art teacher's going to get pregnant!"
me: "I think you mean she IS pregnant and is GOING to have a baby... "
"You know Jesus? He looks into our hearts. He lives in the sky and he can see us. And sometimes he eats grass."
"He eats grass? Why?"
"I don't know, we haven't gotten to that part of the book yet."
Just wanted to remember why I love my job. My kids are the best!!
Thursday, December 16
Pedro the Lion speaks
Love this song. Praying that I can act it out daily. My armor and fight sure isn't getting me anywhere...
The sun shines
And leaves blow
And my hope like autumn is turning brown
I know it seems like I'm always falling down
But it does not matter to me
Although it seems like it should
It's because I know I'm understood when I hear Him say
"Rest in me little David
And dry all your tears
You can lay down your armor
And have no fear
Cause I'm always here
When you're tired of running
And I'm all the strength that you need"
It's uphill both ways
Tomorrow I swear I won't act this way
And I know it seems like that is what I always say
But it does not matter to me
Although it seems like it should
It's because I know I'm understood when I hear Him say
"Rest in me little David
And dry all your tears
You can lay down your armor
And have no fear
Cause I'm always here
When you're tired of running
And I'm all the strength that you need"
You know I want to be like Jesus
But it seems so very far away
When will I learn to obey?
Obey...
The sun shines
And leaves blow
And my hope like autumn is turning brown
I know it seems like I'm always falling down
But it does not matter to me
Although it seems like it should
It's because I know I'm understood when I hear Him say
"Rest in me little David
And dry all your tears
You can lay down your armor
And have no fear
Cause I'm always here
When you're tired of running
And I'm all the strength that you need"
It's uphill both ways
Tomorrow I swear I won't act this way
And I know it seems like that is what I always say
But it does not matter to me
Although it seems like it should
It's because I know I'm understood when I hear Him say
"Rest in me little David
And dry all your tears
You can lay down your armor
And have no fear
Cause I'm always here
When you're tired of running
And I'm all the strength that you need"
You know I want to be like Jesus
But it seems so very far away
When will I learn to obey?
Obey...
Monday, December 13
Oh the weather outside is frightful
A hoodie and blanket are so delightful....
I just watched Julie and Julia. It was a lovely film. It reminded me that I have not written in such a long time! But, alas... I don't have any issues pressing on my brain enough to write.
I'm off for a snow day today. I love watching the snow fall, as everyone else does. However, I hate snow, because it is cold. I would be perfectly content to never see snow again.
I am considering a venture based on the Julie/Julia project. I may begin a Jillian/Lauren project. This would entail me doing the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred workout for 30 days straight. I really do want to do that... I started a few weeks ago and then got sick on day 2 and had to stay in bed all day. However, I am considering trying it again.
Christmas break would be the perfect time to do this for 2 reasons. Number 1- I have more time on my hands. Number 2- It will help me not gain 5 pounds over Christmas!! Here are some concerns I have- vacation. We are having our own Christmas Vacation, am I required to workout then? Would a 3 day rest invalidate my work? Lastly, I like to work out with other people. If someone joined me on this journey, I am 99% sure I would complete it. Volunteers??
I just watched Julie and Julia. It was a lovely film. It reminded me that I have not written in such a long time! But, alas... I don't have any issues pressing on my brain enough to write.
I'm off for a snow day today. I love watching the snow fall, as everyone else does. However, I hate snow, because it is cold. I would be perfectly content to never see snow again.
I am considering a venture based on the Julie/Julia project. I may begin a Jillian/Lauren project. This would entail me doing the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred workout for 30 days straight. I really do want to do that... I started a few weeks ago and then got sick on day 2 and had to stay in bed all day. However, I am considering trying it again.
Christmas break would be the perfect time to do this for 2 reasons. Number 1- I have more time on my hands. Number 2- It will help me not gain 5 pounds over Christmas!! Here are some concerns I have- vacation. We are having our own Christmas Vacation, am I required to workout then? Would a 3 day rest invalidate my work? Lastly, I like to work out with other people. If someone joined me on this journey, I am 99% sure I would complete it. Volunteers??
Monday, November 8
Politcal Message from Lauren.
My friends, I am not a major political nut. However, I just feel compelled to make a few statements of political nature. I hate arguing, and avoid it at all costs, being the passive aggressive creature I am. I promise I am not trying to make anyone mad. I also promise I do not know all there is to know about anything political. So, take these comments with love and grace.
Thanks.
The issue of the day is aliens! Not space ones. Mostly Mexican ones. People who come to America because they want to make a better life for themselves and their families. They don't always do it legally. Sometimes they sneak in. Sometimes they don't follow the rules of living here properly. Mostly I hear anger and hatred when people speak about these folks. They steal our jobs, they take our money, they don't follow our rules, they don't try hard enough to learn English, etc... I would just like to reflect on a Bible verse for a moment.
This is a verse from Leviticus. In the passage God is explaining some laws he would like the Israelites to keep. He asks them to keep these rules so that they may be set apart from the world and show other people how God loves them and how God wants them to live. Here is a law I came across... "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:34.
What?? God wants us to love them? YES!!!!! God wants us to love them!! Because God loves them. And aren't we commissioned to be Jesus to all people?
Let's look at the verse again. Why does God say we should love them? Because we were once aliens in Egypt. Not us, literally; the Israelites. The Israelites were enslaved to the Egyptians for hundreds of years. They were mistreated and cried out to God for freedom. God is asking the Israelites to empathize with their neighbors. To remember the pain of being alone, and to reach out a loving hand. (Yes, I know the Israelites are different from aliens in America because we do not have them enslaved here. They come on their own. But I believe the principle still remains. Empathize. If you lived in their country, saw the violence and poverty they do, you might consider swimming the river, too. I know I would. Empathy. Love.)
So, when I hear people complaining about illegal aliens I cringe and say, why can't we love them? Just because they are more tan than me, speak a different (and beautiful) language, and were born a few miles south does not give me any right to slander them. We are to love them. God asked us to treat them like our own native-borns.
Most of my opinion comes from being concerned very little with earthly governments and very much concerned with the Kingdom of God. As a citizen of the Kingdom, I will choose to love rather than accuse, complain, or judge.
Well, that's about it. I have more to say, but due to privacy, will not be typing it online. We can talk about it personally, if you are so inclined.
I feel better now. c:
Thanks.
The issue of the day is aliens! Not space ones. Mostly Mexican ones. People who come to America because they want to make a better life for themselves and their families. They don't always do it legally. Sometimes they sneak in. Sometimes they don't follow the rules of living here properly. Mostly I hear anger and hatred when people speak about these folks. They steal our jobs, they take our money, they don't follow our rules, they don't try hard enough to learn English, etc... I would just like to reflect on a Bible verse for a moment.
This is a verse from Leviticus. In the passage God is explaining some laws he would like the Israelites to keep. He asks them to keep these rules so that they may be set apart from the world and show other people how God loves them and how God wants them to live. Here is a law I came across... "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:34.
What?? God wants us to love them? YES!!!!! God wants us to love them!! Because God loves them. And aren't we commissioned to be Jesus to all people?
Let's look at the verse again. Why does God say we should love them? Because we were once aliens in Egypt. Not us, literally; the Israelites. The Israelites were enslaved to the Egyptians for hundreds of years. They were mistreated and cried out to God for freedom. God is asking the Israelites to empathize with their neighbors. To remember the pain of being alone, and to reach out a loving hand. (Yes, I know the Israelites are different from aliens in America because we do not have them enslaved here. They come on their own. But I believe the principle still remains. Empathize. If you lived in their country, saw the violence and poverty they do, you might consider swimming the river, too. I know I would. Empathy. Love.)
So, when I hear people complaining about illegal aliens I cringe and say, why can't we love them? Just because they are more tan than me, speak a different (and beautiful) language, and were born a few miles south does not give me any right to slander them. We are to love them. God asked us to treat them like our own native-borns.
Most of my opinion comes from being concerned very little with earthly governments and very much concerned with the Kingdom of God. As a citizen of the Kingdom, I will choose to love rather than accuse, complain, or judge.
Well, that's about it. I have more to say, but due to privacy, will not be typing it online. We can talk about it personally, if you are so inclined.
I feel better now. c:
Wednesday, October 13
Advent Conspiracy
Since its getting closer to Christmas, I have been thinking about the website (AdventConspiracy.org) I read about last year. Its basically about how Christmas celebrations have gotten pretty skewed over the years. We should be celebrating the life of Jesus and the amazing story of how God was born into squalor and genocide to rescue his lost loves. I like the ideas they have there about celebrating differently...
Our small group is reading Jesus For President so I skipped ahead to the part about holidays and was re-reading... The thing about it that gets me thinking is, we give presents because the Magi gave presents to Jesus. So, of course we want to give our loved ones gifts. As a church, we generally look beyond ourselves and give to an Angel Tree kid, or take the inner-city kids to North Boulevard for their huge giveaway. We find a way to extend the love to others. That's what we should do, right??
After I read about the water crisis going on in most of the world, and how little (relatively) money it would take to fix it, I wasn't so sure. Most of the world drinks dirty water, and wastes huge amounts of time to get it. David says his team in Tanzania walked with one of the girls carrying water one day and they were exhausted at the end! And women do most of the work to bring water to their homes. A lot of that water isn't even clean. According to the research on the website, millions are sick, dying, and unable to go to school- all because they lack clean water. And its there in the ground!
I know giving presents to a kid whose father is in jail is noble. I know it is kind and good hearted. But I, personally, think I will be sick if I buy a kid another X-Box game, when I could provide water for 4 kids for LIFE with the same money. While I don't want to discourage people from doing programs like the Angel Tree, I feel like God's people need to step it up, here! If we could provide water to these millions of kids, we would make their health, education, and therefore, life so much better! Honestly, I don't think buying Tickle Me Elmo for a little girl is going to do that much for her...
I want to live in a way that is not of the world, but of the Kingdom. I want Christmas to look different for my family than it does for other people. I want to celebrate the life of Jesus and the life he came to bring to us. I can't think of a much better way than to help people build wells so they can provide their families with clean water! Jesus even called himself the Living Water.
So I'm not sure exactly how we are doing Christmas this year... I would love to see my church family get in on this with me and really change some lives! Praying that God will show us how to serve him in all that we do! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Our small group is reading Jesus For President so I skipped ahead to the part about holidays and was re-reading... The thing about it that gets me thinking is, we give presents because the Magi gave presents to Jesus. So, of course we want to give our loved ones gifts. As a church, we generally look beyond ourselves and give to an Angel Tree kid, or take the inner-city kids to North Boulevard for their huge giveaway. We find a way to extend the love to others. That's what we should do, right??
After I read about the water crisis going on in most of the world, and how little (relatively) money it would take to fix it, I wasn't so sure. Most of the world drinks dirty water, and wastes huge amounts of time to get it. David says his team in Tanzania walked with one of the girls carrying water one day and they were exhausted at the end! And women do most of the work to bring water to their homes. A lot of that water isn't even clean. According to the research on the website, millions are sick, dying, and unable to go to school- all because they lack clean water. And its there in the ground!
I know giving presents to a kid whose father is in jail is noble. I know it is kind and good hearted. But I, personally, think I will be sick if I buy a kid another X-Box game, when I could provide water for 4 kids for LIFE with the same money. While I don't want to discourage people from doing programs like the Angel Tree, I feel like God's people need to step it up, here! If we could provide water to these millions of kids, we would make their health, education, and therefore, life so much better! Honestly, I don't think buying Tickle Me Elmo for a little girl is going to do that much for her...
I want to live in a way that is not of the world, but of the Kingdom. I want Christmas to look different for my family than it does for other people. I want to celebrate the life of Jesus and the life he came to bring to us. I can't think of a much better way than to help people build wells so they can provide their families with clean water! Jesus even called himself the Living Water.
So I'm not sure exactly how we are doing Christmas this year... I would love to see my church family get in on this with me and really change some lives! Praying that God will show us how to serve him in all that we do! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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