The Argument Clinic

So I went for a nice drive/hike in vermont (to equinox mountain, hence the subject line) with the kulps and pj today. Had a really nice time and it was sooo nice and cold up there! YAY! Signs of the cold weather to come (no, I don’t count days with highs in the 60s as cold…not even close!). Got some decent photos, though it wasn’t peak foliage time yet there. Was still a beautiful drive/hike (though I get queasy driving up the sides of mountains, paul was good and drove slowly for the most part ). Learned what letterboxing is because Paul came across one there, none of us participate in that though so no stamps for us, interesting idea though (i looked up what it was on my blackberry on the drive home cause we were curious ). Think I had heard of it before but didn’t put it together at the time.

Anyways, photos from today’s trip can be found here. I am pretty tired, so that’s it for this update.

So I watched failure to launch yesterday with val. It was ok, but not great. I liked sarah jessica parker’s roommate and her storyline, but didn’t have much invested in what happened between the main characters. Its weird because I liked sarah jessica parker in sex and the city and actually cared what happened with her character, carrie, but when I watch her in movies (such as this one and family stone), I just can’t connect with her character enough to care who she ends up with. Perhaps its because she needs the extra time that is available in an ongoing show like sex and the city vs. the mere 1.5-2 hours of a movie in order to fully develop a character? Or maybe the writers at sex and the city just wrote for her a lot better? Or maybe the cast she was worked with on sex and the city just fit with her better? Its weird cause most actors that I like I tend to consistently enjoy watching and for some reason she is an exception to that rule. Hmmm…

Yay!  Joan of Arcadia season 2 is on pre-order on amazon.com!  YAY! 

If you missed JoA on TV the first time around, I highly recommend at least renting the shows (if not buying them).  Its a really good show about a family with real-life kind of problems and focuses on high school student Joan who hears from God through a variety of different people.  It isn’t a preachy show and I would say its more ’spiritual’ than ‘christian’ in the way it approaches the topic of religion and God (though as a christian myself, I tended to interpret things from that perspective, but I wouldn’t say its presented that way).  Great show, great characters, highly recommended.  Cancelled after 2 seasons, I miss it but I guess its better that it ended when it was still really good rather than some shows, which just die off.

So I was home sick from work yesterday (stomach bug…), checked my mail and a book I had ordered recently (Coming up for air by Margaret Becker) came so I decided to read it to distract myself.  It is basically the story of a woman who found her life getting too busy and out of control, she always felt like she had to run just to catch up with it.  So she took a month off and just processed her life, what she would want to be different, ways she could work on changing some things, etc.  That was 11 years ago, the book was released in early ‘06 though so she discusses what her journey has been like since then too. 

There was a lot of stuff she talked about that I could relate to feeling some days and the book gave me a lot to think about.  Stuff I haven’t really processed yet, cause yesterday was my reading of the book day and a later time will need to be my ‘processing stuff’-day.  But I highly recommend the book overall.  Was a pretty quick read (I read it in 3-3.5 hours) and definitely worth buying!

So anyways, there are definitely a few things I could start adjusting…and first on my list is soap operas.  I know that sounds silly, but I have decided to take a break from obsessively watching and keeping up with them.  I find that, when I have an evening at home I tend to fill it with tv…instead of just spending more of that time with God.  Not sure why I thought that was a sustainable long-term way to live my life because I do need more focused time with Him in my day.  Not too profound really, just something I need to work on.  Not cutting out tv completely (cause that would be a little extreme for me), but I need to be more intelligent about my viewing choices.  But I am not sure I am ready to completely give up general hospital…at least not until after laura’s brief return…but we will see

Anyways, coming up for air is highly recommend!

One of my favorite songs, Praise You in this Storm by Casting Crowns…really need to hear it some days…

I was sure by now, God You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it’s still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
“I’m with you”
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I’ll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I’ve cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can’t find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus