The Midwest Is Sucking Me In!!!

Not only is the Midwest sucking me in, it's not even your normal run-of-the-mill Midwest, it's your UPPER midwest. I'm not even a troll, I'm a Yooper! AAAAAH! And for those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about...good for you. Don't get sucked in too by asking me about it. Ha. That little bit of Dixie I use is probably from the ya'll I picked up from my childhood in Texas. But HONESTLY *Nerd Alert* English needs a plural you!!!!!!!!

Your Linguistic Profile:

65% General American English

20% Yankee

10% Upper Midwestern

5% Dixie

0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

You Can't Go Home Again

Well – my sister is well and truly hitched now. So, for the masses of relatives and friends that came to the wedding there was one all-consuming sentiment: “So, it’s about time for you to get married now Alexandra.” To which my reply (although only in my head) was “EEK!” At a sister’s wedding, even an older sister’s, a woman, heretofore content with her singlehood, (to the extent that Pedrables, a cloister in Barcelona, Spain, sounded like a pretty good idea sometimes) except for some forays into romantic insanity now and again, can get mugged by all the romance and weddingness. As my pastor says, “The mind is like a dangerous neighborhood, if you wander around in there long enough you’re going to get mugged.” Standing up at the front of the church, waiting for the important parts of the dress rehearsal to commence (e.i. when I have to do anything other than stand and look pretty) one can get to thinking “I wonder what MY wedding will be like….I think I won’t have this or that and I will have this or that….hmm…I wonder WHO I’ll be marrying……..ACK!” This is when the danger truly begins. The romantic poison works through your mind until people who are, to even the least discerning mind, mismatched to you seem perfectly suitable. This poison can only be worked out in one way: by ruthlessly attacking every male you know until they are all so scared and intimidated by you that you are perfectly safe. No…wait…I do that already…. Well, I guess it actually just takes time. I figure it’ll take me about 2 months to detox. Just in time for….yes….2 more weddings! These should be fine though. Neither of them are related to me by bonds of sisterhood. Still, if you happen to be a non-married male and between the ages of 18 and 45, I suggest you not talk to me or write to me, and definitely not make eye contact with me until at least September 16th….of 2008. I’m just kidding! You can speak to me in 2007.

All in all though, the wedding was lovely and except for the pastor forgetting to say “You may now kiss the bride” (What a gyp! Can I get my money back?!?!) and one more moment that I won’t go into detail about, considering that people I actually KNOW read this blog, it was great and thoroughly enjoyable. Definitely one of the best bits was dancing with my sister at the reception and singing with the Jazz band. I am so wonderfully talented! (and modest!)

pictures
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more pictures

After the wedding, I enjoyed spending time with a friend and my cousin in Seattle. We went to my favorite store by Pike’s Place Market, Pyramid Imports, and I bought a lovely Egyptian necklace. It was a little long for my neck, which prompted me to ask a friend to shorten it for me, as I am completely mechanically incompentent. His response, once he saw the necklace, was, "Um...so, is this for your bellydancing or something?" *cough* I guess I'm going to have to work on my reputation here. Back to Seattle: we also went to a vegan Thai restaurant. Only in Seattle would a vegan Thai restaurant be successful. Although, rightfully so; it was pretty wonderful!

I was happy to go and happy to return. I love and adore all my friends here and also the people who aren't really my friends yet but are more acquiantances at the moment. Some seem to like me too. Guess I pulled the wool over their eyes!

Getting a Little Philosophical

“…[T]he ultimate sacrifice isn’t death after all; the ultimate sacrifice is willingly bearing the fullest penalty for your own actions.” - Orson Scott Card, from A Planet Called Treason

Thinking about this: wouldn't the greatest sacrifice actually be willingly bearing the fullest penalty for someone else's actions, when yours would bring no penalty at all?

Hmm. Who has already done this? Jesus Christ's redemptive work on the cross paying the penalty, even to death, not just for one person's sin, or a few people's sins, but for all is the greatest sacrifice. Of this there can be no question.

Even for science fiction authors.

And one more quote from the same book:

“Even death will be good, I think, not because it ends old bitterness, but because I believe it will come as the last of the many sharp tastes that have taught me I am alive.”