the red pony. moving on…

Yes, yes yes.  I know you probably don’t believe me, but I did finish The Red Pony before the end of January.  I finished it about a week ago, quick/easy read.  It is a sad book, but I’m not sure I really cared too much about the young boy, Jody.  For those of you that haven’t read this book, and plan to, maybe you shouldn’t read further in case I spoil something.

Ok, I do care a bit about Jody.  I relate with him and want to go on adventures with him.  However, if he got hurt, I wouldn’t care too much.  Mostly, I just want a pony to live.  I want to hear about something happening and succeeding and bringing joy and life to something.  My first taste of Steinbeck.  I got a taste of his long, detailed, descriptions.  I now know that he is capable of character development, but I don’t really believe he necessarily wanted me to care about Jody very much.  In fact, I was worried for the welfare of his father, maybe thats my counselor side coming out, wanting to address the entire family system.  Oh, boy.

Next Up: To A God Unknown.  I have no clue what this one is about, but I think I want to go in blindly.  Again the offer stands, if you would like to journey through Steinbeck with me, just let me know.  My friend Beth has decided to join me.  She is also getting married on March 20th and I am so excited for her. 

In the mean time, I am also reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan in my small group.  Classes start on Saturday.  Venue starts on Sunday.   Why aren’t I stressed?

The Beginning

John Steinbeck in a year, in chronological order:

JANUARY:  The Red Pony (1933)

FEBRUARY:  To a God Unknown (1933)

MARCH:  Tortilla Flat (1935)

APRIL:   Of Mice and Men (1937)

MAY:  The Grapes of Wrath (1939)

JUNE:  The Moon is Down (1942)

JULY:  Cannery Row (1945)

AUGUST:  The Pearl (1947)

SEPTEMBER:  East of Eden (1952)

OCTOBER:  Once There Was A War (1958)

NOVEMBER:  Travels with Charlie: In Search of America (1962)

DECEMBER:  The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (1976)

This is not an exhaustive list of his works, but rather a collection of what I am hoping are his top 12 works: both fiction and non-fiction.   I have been very nervous about starting a book this month, considering I am already 9 days down… but I believe I begin with one of his shorter works, so it should be doable.  I was encouraged this past week by a few non-readers who exclaimed that they appreciated The Grapes of Wrath when reading it in high school.  Although, to me, it is hard to not like a book in high school after studying it in depth and having all the marvelous characteristics of each book pointed out to you.

Here is what I know about The Red Pony so far:

-  It is an episodic novella (don’t ask me, I have no clue what this means)
-  The book consists of 4 short stories:  all centered around the main character, Jody (10 years old), and his life on a ranch in California.
-  It is possibly an incredibly sad book; quite an emotional ride.

If you would like to join me for any month/book this year, simply let me know.  I would love to have someone reading along side me.  Or, if you have read this book and have some input, let me know.

Alright, now I need to go buy this book…

John Steinbeck

Courtesy of Michael Wiser

After a conversation with my friend Nathan this evening, I am leaning towards reading through the works of John Steinbeck this year.  Considering that I am living in his home town (or close enough), it would be incredible at this point in my life to read through his books about the region that I  inhabit.  I am contemplating a book a month: 12 books total.  So far I am looking at adding the following novels to my list:

1. Of Mice and Men
2. The Grapes of Wrath
3. The Moon is Down
4. Tortilla Flat
5. The Red Pony
6. To A God Unknown
7. Cannery Row
8. East of Eden
9. The Pearl
10. Once There Was a War
11. Travels with Charlie: In Search of America
12.

As you can see, there is once space I am yet to fill.  If for some reason you have read a Steinbeck novel that was incredible and not included in this list, let me know and I will fill it in. Until then, I will wait.

My next venture is deciding where in the mix to place “The Grapes of Wrath”.  From recent conversations, I understand this isn’t know to be the easiest book to get through.  Inspired by Julie on “Julie and Julia”, I think I will leave this last, as she waited until the end to “bone a duck”.  I must say, I am intimidated, scared, and fearing eventual regret.  A little encouragement, anyone? ….or not?

Somehow this is the first

year that I have been continually poked and prodded – by none but myself – to make a New Years Resolution.  Actually, lets call it my “New Years Endeavor”.  Beginning with a New Year sermon, I started to contemplate making a change this year.  Of course these thoughts didn’t go far beyond my annual contemplation.  However, they became more serious when I decided to watch the movie “Julie and Julia”.

Unfortunately, the majority of the people watching the movie with me were bored and restless the entire movie.  Luckily, the one person in the room who was delighted with me was my boyfriend, Reid (gotta love him).

Julie decides to take on a big challenge:  cook 524 recipes by Julia Childs in 365 days.  Not only is this extremely difficult, but it lasted for an entire year!  What an amazing thing, to challenge yourself to such a painstaking task that you throw things in fits of frustration and crumble to the floor in tears at times.  How rewarding.  My thoughts continued on the idea of taking on this challenge.  All too quickly I realized this is a terrible match with me.  Not only the subject matter, but the financial demand.

The following day I visit the John Steinbeck center (museum) in Salinas with some friends.  How intrigued I was to read many of his novels… especially one titled something like “The Moon is Down”.  So here came a thought… what if I read through John Steinbeck’s novels in a year?  What if I read one per month?  What if I chose 12 of the top novels of all time and read through those?  What if I knit a hat for a person in need each month?  What if I did this each week?  What if I continued to sew aprons, perfected the art, then sell them and give the proceeds to a favorite organization?

Ok, the thoughts are too big for me to tackle right now.  I need help.  What do you think?

The Messenger

I just got home from seeing “The Messenger” with Reid tonight at the Nickelodeon.  We’ve realized that Reid is drawn to the sad/depressing movies.  See, this movie is all about 2 soldiers who are assigned to visit homes of soldiers that have died and tell their parent/spouse the news.  Depressing, right?

This movie was pretty pretty good.  I do enjoy the surge of movies lately that are focused on the crud of life.  ”The Messenger”  did not have a huge resolution, no redemptive scene at the end, no tragic tale.  Instead, it simply just was.  It told a story.  You were able to be a “fly on the wall” for these 2 soldiers for 1.5 hours.  Instead of feeling a surge of happiness, sadness, or anger?, I walk out of the theater as I am.  Having heard the tale of a soldier, I can now decide what it is I want to do with the information I received.  Understanding a tiny bit more about the life of a soldier, I can continue to make decisions in life.  I can choose to change my perspective, or learn more if I want to.

I think what I am trying to say is that I like it when films don’t force me to feel anything.  They just invite you in, ask you to sit for awhile, and then when you are ready, you stand up and leave the theater.  Isn’t that how our real-life relationships should be?  When I meet a stranger:  invite them in, ask them to sit for awhile, and let them leave when they are ready?

Engage the Dialogue

Check out this post… some really interesting thoughts on street preaching.

http://thejamble.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/the-guitar-and-the-bullhorn/#comment-45

Home Again, with Some Common Sense

My bags are still packed and I haven’t put away anything that I left out before I hopped on the plane, but I wanted to blog, so here I am.  Today I was blogging in my head, and I started wondering why people don’t have common sense.  Ok, so this is a blog that has been taking place in my head for a long time.  Common sense.  Why don’t people understand it’s not ok to stare incessantly at people on the bus, despite the fact they are looking back at them?  (friendlybanter.blogspot.com).  When you borrow something and happen to break it, you need to either get it fixed or replace it.  When a serious relationship ends, you need some time to heal…mentally and emotionally.  Don’t put your mouth on the drinking fountain faucet.  Picking your nose in public is not attractive.  When I put earphones in my ears on an airplane, that means I don’t want to talk to you.  Ok, you get it.  Where does it come from?  Why is it? How do we solve this world crisis?  Well, I am guessing that its from modeling…that is the only way to learn this type of common sense.  By observing others (usually your parents), you learn these little life secrets.  So, who was the crazy that was the first to do each of these and start a line of common sense-lacking people?  I don’t know, it doesn’t matter.  If I write a book, I want to write one…”Common Sense for Dummies” or something like that.  It would be my service to the world.  Maybe if I become rich one day I will give it out for free.

 

Well I am home from Portland and I am pooped.  However, I have half of a hat knit, a new skein of yarn, some new beads, and 2 new books:  ”She’s Come Undone” (Wally Lamb) and Siddhartha (Author unknown to me at this second, I dont want to have to walk over to my bag).  Successful weekend.  Thanks for helping me get up there, Bob and Denise.  Katie, awesome play, I can’t wait to see more.  Annika, you were awesome…congrats on your first goal.  Sam, maybe I’ll see you at Thanksgiving and I’ll have something fun to say

A friend mentioned the other day that instead of saying “Amen” at the end of prayers, he is going to say, “thats wassup”.  Yeah, funny.

Once You’ve Hit the Bottom

I just finished my final “Substance Abuse” class of the Fall term, and I feel like I barely learned anything, the scope of this topic is so huge.  The most profound thing about being an addict is that you will never be able to begin recovery until you hit the bottom–like rock bottom.  Until you lose something, someone, or you have a revelation, you will never be able to quit your cycle of addiction.  You have to admit that you are completely powerless and surrender to the higher power.

It is the same thing with sin.  You will never grasp the love of God or exit your self-deprecating cycle of sin until you hit rock bottom, realize you are powerless, completely sick, and allow God to take control of your entire condition.

It is the same thing with almost all things in life.  You will never realize __________  until you hit rock bottom.  Until you are able to completely erase self and fill your eyes with God, you will never __________.  Fill in the blank.

I am completely sick.  Praise God.

 

Wisdom from “An Uncommon Drunk” by Jeff Herten

“Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that never was before and will never be again.  And what do we teach our children in school?  We teach them that 2 and 2 makes 4 and that Paris is the capital of France.  When will we also teach them what they are?  We should say to each of them:  Do you know what you are?  You are a marvel.  You are unique.  In all the world there is no other child like you.  And look at your body…what a wonder it is!  Your legs, your arms, your cunning fingers, the way you move!  You have the capacity for anything.  Yes, you are a marvel.  And when you grow up, can you harm another who is, like you, a marvel?  You must cherish one another.  You must work – we all must work – to make this world worthy of its children.”

-Pablo Casals

The Murder at Anonville Manor

For those of you that may not have seen the pictures, here is a sneak peak into our Halloween Murder Mystery Party.  Themed “Murder at Anonville Manor”, we decorated our apartment as somewhat of an abandoned mansion.