Friday, December 31, 2004

Sorry Show

I have a strange story to tell. I was on the way home from work today, surfing the radio waves when I came across some station that was having their usual Thursday night "sorry show". Some man called in to say he was sorry for leaving his wife and kids 5 years ago. Another lady called up to tell how she works at a store and helped out a customer, so the customer gave her a bushel of tomatoes. Just for the fun of it, she threw one off the balcony of the 2nd story building and the man who gave the tomatoes to her saw this happen (kind of humorous). Anyway, as they explained, people can call in about something they feel guilty about and the show hosts will badger the caller a little about what they did, then they will be absolved of their sins. Is that not kind of strange? Why would a person think they could be absolved of their sins by calling in to a radio station and telling the world what they did? I guess I just think it's weird because I'm used to going to confession to be absolved of my sins.

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

The Secret Life of Bees

I just finished reading this book a couple of days ago and would recommend it to anyone (except a guy). My cousin read it, recommended it to my aunt, who in turn told my mom to read it, who then insisted I read it. It's not like any book I've read before so I don't know how to describe it, but I assure you that it's good. (read the description!!) It's also a New York Times Bestseller in case that means anything.

Pro-Life Wristbands

I would like to place an order for some wristbands a.s.a.p. Does anyone have an approx. idea how many I should order? 10? 15? Tell me if you want me to order you (or other people you know) one.

Still Need A Tree?


Joshua Tree
Originally uploaded by theorem.
How about a joshua tree? If you do a search on flickr you'll come up with quite a few awesome pictures, though this one was my personal favorite.

Tuesday, December 28, 2004

Day's End


Day's End
Originally uploaded by Bistrosavage.
I'm still hunting for the right tree to paint. Just can't find it though; it has to be artistically shaped and I can't find any pictures of one. (sigh in disappointment)

First Post

Hi Everyone!
I think Kenric may have said this, but great minds do think alike...Sorry. Anyway, I'm just making this my introduction post, since I can't think of much to say. Wow, almost 2005! Any New Years resolutions? I don't have any yet. Making resolutions has become so...traditional?..that I hope everyone who makes them actually thinks about what they want to change or improve and not make some because they always do. Well that's all for now. Talk to you guys later. God Bless.

Pro Life Wristbands!

They're Blue

Hopefully this gives you a little something you to smile about. They've already sold over 10,000 of the bracelets, plus they've got two really cool bumper stickers on the way. I'll probably order some of them eventually, but maybe it would be a nice thing for you guys going to the pro-life march to have and possibly hand out or sell or something while you're down there.

Monday, December 27, 2004

(Warning: Prepare for a Long Post)

It all began with very simply. "Why don't you go get a movie with Ted?" Mom asked me. So, we got talking about good movies that we could rent. "Rachael, you need to see Farenheit 911 sometime," Ted told me. "Ahhh, yeah. Probably not," I said. Whoops, wrong thing to say. Definitely the wrong thing to say. Just for your information, he is very liberal. Anyway, his response. "What's the matter? Can you not handle that your oh-so-great Christian president is wrong?" After that, everything blew up.
"We're in Iraq just for oil! Why didn't we go to the UN first?" He told me.

"Yeah. We did and they wouldn't support our action."
"Ahh, that's what Bush wants us to think. We actually didn't even wait for their response and we went by ourselves."
"If that's true, what was the point of it?"
"To have all the oil for ourselves. We didn't want to split it up between more countries. You can't seriously believe that we're over there to help the people. Look at all the other countries whose people are oppressed and we aren't helping them. People in Africa are being killed and we don't care. No, we're doing it completely out of selfishness." (and bla, bla, bla for about 5 more minutes while I want to dig and hole and hide out for awhile)
"So if we would have gone into Iraq with the support of the UN, it would have been ok?"
"Yes."
"I disagree Ted that we are in Iraq for oil. Look at WW2, we got into that to help out the people that were being oppressed by Hitler."
"No. WW2, we were fighting Communism. Vietnam, we were fighting China because they were Communist."
"Ok, let's say that's true. What are the platforms of Communism? Does it oppress people? What did Hitler do to the people?"
Anyway, after him yelling at me for at least 10 more minutes with me standing there pretty much defenseless, I walked out and left it to mom and dad. What's the use anyway? There is no way I can sway what he believes. After I left, the argument has gone from abortion, seperation of church and state, gays, religious toleration and the list is still going on. Oh and by the way, supposedly all United States media is skewed and all other countries have the right news while we remain in the dark. Other news he informs me of, Bush has only created 1 bill against abortion and that was signed by liberals. Bush is milking his Christian image for all it's worth and not doing anything that Christians think he is.
I don't believe the war is right, but I do not believe that we went into Iraq because we want oil. And I don't agree with him about a lot of his beliefs. I have a headache now and am in a seriously bad mood. If your here still reading, thanks.

ice skating

Would any of you people want to go ice skating? Washington Park has open skate almost every day. It's pretty cheap too, two dollars to rent skates and 1 to 4 dollars to skate, depending on the day. I don't know if any of you would want to go, but my family went Sunday, and it was a lot of fun. Anyway, we should do something over Christmas break. Any more ideas?

Sunday, December 26, 2004

Title

Hey, if anyone doesn't like the title of this site or thinks it's cheesy and sounds like a soap opera name (days of our life?), I am open to suggestions. Tell me what you think!

Home For Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I can honestly say this was one of the most beautiful Christmases. My brother is finally home from Brazil and I've been spending a lot of time with him. Last night, we went to midnight mass and our priest who has been in Rome came back to say Christmas mass to surprise our parish! Today my whole family (minus one of my brothers) was home. It's such a great atmosphere with our house packed full of people. My house is usually very quiet, but with everyone home, it's a complete ruckus. We all stand around in the kitchen making the food. My brother from Brazil tries to squeeze as much garlic and hot pepper into food before my mom screams for him to stop. Someone bought my mom a yakety sax cd (we always clean the house to our yakety sax record), so she put it in the stereo and danced to it. My nephew who is 2 also did a wild dance. Later, we all sat around by the piano and my brothers and I played Christmas carols drinking tea. I have to say, our family is definitely unique. Oh, also someone left a little beagle puppy off at our house, so we've been playing with it. We've called all the neighbors and it doesn't have a home. :( Anyone need a beagle puppy? (It has floppy ears, come on it's cute. Someone has to want it.) Anyway, I'm done rambling about my day.

Friday, December 24, 2004

Christmas Time is Here

I've been making food all day for tomorrow when my family comes over and it's snowing up a storm outside my window. My brother that has been in Brazil is on his way to Michigan right now and my other brother is in the kitchen singing a weird rendition of More to Life. Ahh I love Christmas. But, I do have a complaint (sorry). Every year, it disgusts me how materialistic everything has become. Call me a transcendentalist, a Catholic traditionalist, call me crazy for all I care, but I always have an extreme want around Christmas for things to be much, much more simple. (I think I am a transcendentalist.)

Thursday, December 23, 2004

trees that are false

This is my second blog on this site. I feel like ranting, so I'm going to complain about my family's Christmas tree; This tree, that we have in our living room, is not even real, that is, it's FAKE. This is such an outrage, I know that some people have fake Christmas trees-------and that's fine, but this is a Charlie Brown fake Christmas tree. There are two
options to Christmas tree buyers, and two rules. You may buy a fake or real tree. You may buy a Charlie Brown real tree and you may not buy a Charlie Brown fake tree.
Thus, I end my rant. Have a very Merry Christmas

Now, I Am Here

Well I guess I'm joining the party. This was a really good idea. I'm not really sure what to post about, so I think I'll just leave it at this. I'll have a full report on your desk by Monday. Oh what the cheat, here's some cool links for all of ya's. Have a great Christmas!!!

Scientists Test the 5-Second Rule

Best of Stillphoto Journalism 2004

The Top 25 Weirdest Items You Can Purchase Through Amazon

The Incredible Hulks Blog

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Lacking Happiness?

"As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life one's friend. " (John 15:9-12)

For some reason, people seem to be most unhappy during the Christmas season. Suicide rates are higher at this time than any other time of the year. What is the reason for this? Maybe some people feel alienated from others or they feel that no one loves them. Maybe it's the stress that our society has created from shifting the focus from the birth of Jesus to presents. I'm sure there's not any one reason for depression during the holidays, but I'd like to propose an idea. Jesus tells us that His greatest commandment is to love other as He loves us. He says that if we keep His commandments we will remain in His love and our joy will be complete. Try, during this Christmas season to try to reach out to others in love. Maybe visit a nursing home or help out around the house more than you usually would. If you're doing last minute shopping, smile to everyone that walks by you. (It's a sad world out there in the hectic shopping malls.) It's a proven fact that loving others makes you happy. Try it.

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Monday, December 20, 2004

March For Life


March For Life
Originally uploaded by rachaelf.
Two weeks ago, I saw in my church bulletin an article about the March for Life in D.C. I didn't have time to call the contact lady that week because I was so busy. Well...the next Sunday, the lady, whom I have never talked to before, came into the place where I work (it was the first time I've ever seen her there) and started talking to me about the March for Life. Aha, now that's definitely God calling out, "Rachael, you need to go to this ." Now, a week later (at the last minute of course), I'm trying to scrounge up people to go, so it's kind of stressful. So far, 4 of my friends are going for sure and there are still other people who need to think about it. Anyone who read this, prayers please so that I can get more people to go! I've already encountered sooo many obstacles to persuading people to go. I'm excited about it because it's such a great cause and can't wait to see so many pro-lifers protesting.

Jennifer's First(of many) Post!

Hello people of the Internet!... or more probably people that a actually know in real life who are just stopping in on this site. Well I don't really have anything to say right now but I thought (or Rachael thought) that I should post something. Well I am reading a book... That is almost exciting news. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde... I don't recommend it to you people reading this now... But I like it. It has some crazy theory's in it and some silly men but it is interesting to say the least. The story is about a young man who is very beautiful. He, because of the ranting of a friend, becomes obsessed with youth. He makes a statement declaring that we would rather keep his youth and let a portrait of himself age instead. He gets his wish and the picture begins to age... That is about as far as I am in it. Dorian Gray is a character also in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. He looks very different in the movie from the description in the book. Merry Christmas!

hey people

hi guys, i just though i'd try this out. I'll write more later; i have a poetry thing to send to my teacher. :)

Thursday, December 16, 2004

Pre-post

This is a website for everyone to talk about funny happenings of the day, announce stuff or just talk. I want it to be kind of informal and so that anyone in our group feels like they can post on it. I mainly want to establish it as a place for us all to keep in touch, especially when we're scattered after high school.