On the Chicago UPN station at 7 am on weekdays a miraculous thing happens. If one turns to that station a time machine pops up in the living room and those late twentysomethings and early thirtysomethings are transported back to their childhoods...to a time when Strawberry Shortcake was manufactured on every possible item and the Smurfs were on tv.
That's right, the Smurfs are on tv! On network tv, not cable! And I watched them this morning as I remembered sprawling in front of the tv with my dad (a closeted Smurf fan) as he supposedly read the paper and I took in the adventures of the little blue beings.
My 6 year old brain never caught the strange ways the Smurfs use language and now that I'm paying attention I think we should adopt the Smurf ways. In this particular 15 minute episode (because the Smurfly creators can of course compose an entire story arc with suspense and moral to fit into 15 minutes) Smurf phrases kept catching my attention. My favorite was "Well, I'll be Smurfed" but then there also was, "That wasn't very Smurfly." The word Smurf is more than a noun, but a verb and an adverb as well - I bet we could figure out the adjective if we tried.
I'm not suggesting that we should adopt the word "Smurf" and its variations, but perhaps another word that better describes us. "Well, I'll be peopled!" might work, but I don't think "That wasn't very peopley" sounds very good. The word human in the same context would sound funny as well. Maybe if we considered the Smurfs as a separate nationality rather than species and so we would say "Well, I'll be Germaned (or Irished, Brazilianed, Japaned)" and "That wasn't very USly (or Russianly, Tanzanianly, Indianly)." We would have to be careful to speak only of our own heritage here. I'm not sure this is the answer.
This started out as humorous musings, but as I think about the different ways that we identify ourselves I realize that certain religious terms would fit quite well into the scheme. But, I don't want to put those in. What phrase can we come up with to use as an exclamation or expletive? What can possibly as cool as "Smurf"?
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
The Music Challenge
I've been tagged by Abba (of Ligature fame) to take the music challenge. Here goes:
What is the total amount of music files on your computer?
- 448 files downloaded primarily from my CD's with some of my roommate's as well. A couple of strange songs came with the computer itself.
What was the last song you listened to before reading this message?
- Well, the first time I read the message, I don't remember. The second time I believe it was a song from the "Don't Mess With Texas Music" CD. This time, I think it was a blues tune. Can't tell you what, but probably by either Miles Davis or John Coltrane.
Write down five songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you.
1) "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac. It's found on "The Dance" CD which also brings me another favorite, "Bleed to Love Her." It's just good, heartfelt music. I get the same feeling that I get when I listen to certain Janis Joplin songs.
2) "Love Will Come To You" by Indigo Girls. It's hard to pick just one Indigo Girls' song, but this would be it if I had to. Despite the fact that it is schmoopy (and perhaps because it is) it has found its way onto mixes and being repeated. I suppose it could also be because I just really want to believe what the song says. I have it on the "Rites of Passage" album, although it could be on others.
3) U2 - Do I need to clarify? Yeah, I do, 'cause some of what they put out is fine, but it doesn't all get me in the gut like certain songs. "Grace," "Running to Stand Still," "Evolution" (purely 'cause the concert rocked and I felt euphoric as they entranced to this song), "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." These are found either on "Joshua Tree" or "All That You Can't Leave Behind." They each get me for different reasons, and I can rate them differently, but none over the other. I admit, this is the "in" group to be obsessed with, but I'd like to think that I like them despite that.
4) "I'll Rise" by Ben Harper. Yes, Abba, Ben Harper does it make it on my list. I do like him, but I don't know that I would put any of his albums in my top 5 album list. However, this fabulous song, with lyrics by Maya Angelou does make a mention in this top 5 list. Ask me next week, who knows. Even though it doesn't make my top 5 albums (because compilations always do better for me than one artist) "Welcome to the Cruel World" is a great album.
5) Only one more left? Geez! Well, because I've found myself replaying this song more than once lately I'm going to choose as my last (for this time) song as "Love is Everywhere" by Bob Schneider. I have it on my favorite compilation disc set "Broadcasts Volume 11"
Well, for this day, March 22nd, 2005 these are my favorites. Tomorrow they may be different.
Who are you going to pass this on to (3 people) and why?
Well, seeing as I only have 4 blogging connections and two of them have done this already, I'll pass it on to the two others who have not yet been tagged. These are two fabulous friends whom I greatly respect, particularly in regards to music. Both Bellerina and Meckhead will come up with some great possibilities.
P.S. This is my first ever post putting in links and I just had to celebrate what I hope to be successful linkage - yay!
What is the total amount of music files on your computer?
- 448 files downloaded primarily from my CD's with some of my roommate's as well. A couple of strange songs came with the computer itself.
What was the last song you listened to before reading this message?
- Well, the first time I read the message, I don't remember. The second time I believe it was a song from the "Don't Mess With Texas Music" CD. This time, I think it was a blues tune. Can't tell you what, but probably by either Miles Davis or John Coltrane.
Write down five songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you.
1) "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac. It's found on "The Dance" CD which also brings me another favorite, "Bleed to Love Her." It's just good, heartfelt music. I get the same feeling that I get when I listen to certain Janis Joplin songs.
2) "Love Will Come To You" by Indigo Girls. It's hard to pick just one Indigo Girls' song, but this would be it if I had to. Despite the fact that it is schmoopy (and perhaps because it is) it has found its way onto mixes and being repeated. I suppose it could also be because I just really want to believe what the song says. I have it on the "Rites of Passage" album, although it could be on others.
3) U2 - Do I need to clarify? Yeah, I do, 'cause some of what they put out is fine, but it doesn't all get me in the gut like certain songs. "Grace," "Running to Stand Still," "Evolution" (purely 'cause the concert rocked and I felt euphoric as they entranced to this song), "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." These are found either on "Joshua Tree" or "All That You Can't Leave Behind." They each get me for different reasons, and I can rate them differently, but none over the other. I admit, this is the "in" group to be obsessed with, but I'd like to think that I like them despite that.
4) "I'll Rise" by Ben Harper. Yes, Abba, Ben Harper does it make it on my list. I do like him, but I don't know that I would put any of his albums in my top 5 album list. However, this fabulous song, with lyrics by Maya Angelou does make a mention in this top 5 list. Ask me next week, who knows. Even though it doesn't make my top 5 albums (because compilations always do better for me than one artist) "Welcome to the Cruel World" is a great album.
5) Only one more left? Geez! Well, because I've found myself replaying this song more than once lately I'm going to choose as my last (for this time) song as "Love is Everywhere" by Bob Schneider. I have it on my favorite compilation disc set "Broadcasts Volume 11"
Well, for this day, March 22nd, 2005 these are my favorites. Tomorrow they may be different.
Who are you going to pass this on to (3 people) and why?
Well, seeing as I only have 4 blogging connections and two of them have done this already, I'll pass it on to the two others who have not yet been tagged. These are two fabulous friends whom I greatly respect, particularly in regards to music. Both Bellerina and Meckhead will come up with some great possibilities.
P.S. This is my first ever post putting in links and I just had to celebrate what I hope to be successful linkage - yay!
Saturday, March 05, 2005
An Adventure Waiting to Happen
From my place in southern Chicago I drive north on the Kennedy Expressway (really Hwys 90/94) towards the headquarters of my church denomination, O'Hare Airport, Ikea, etc. It's possible to take the express lanes, which are different than other express lanes that I've known in that they are not HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes but rather lanes where one is able to exit at only a few times. They are similar, I suppose to the express bus that only stops at certain locations along the route.
In my tenure in Chicago I've frequently taken this route. Every time I drive to my parents' home in St. Paul I drive this way. Along the way Highways 90 and 94 split - I most frequently take the one that travels closest along the previously mentioned sites and that ultimately brings me to my folks' house. When I take the express lanes I reach the point where 90 and 94 diverge and take the appropriate exit to continue along 90 - but I yearn to take the very cool way to 94. In the express lanes when 90 and 94 split, not only do those that take this route get to use two lanes as they go, they also get to travel on a large bridgy-overpass. It looks like an adventure waiting to happen, and I want to take it.
I am now going to get the chance to take it, perhaps multiple times. I found out last night that I have been assigned to the Greater Milwaukee Synod!! I now get to take the route marked "Milwaukee," overpass and all. It is an adventure waiting to happen and I am thrilled!
In my tenure in Chicago I've frequently taken this route. Every time I drive to my parents' home in St. Paul I drive this way. Along the way Highways 90 and 94 split - I most frequently take the one that travels closest along the previously mentioned sites and that ultimately brings me to my folks' house. When I take the express lanes I reach the point where 90 and 94 diverge and take the appropriate exit to continue along 90 - but I yearn to take the very cool way to 94. In the express lanes when 90 and 94 split, not only do those that take this route get to use two lanes as they go, they also get to travel on a large bridgy-overpass. It looks like an adventure waiting to happen, and I want to take it.
I am now going to get the chance to take it, perhaps multiple times. I found out last night that I have been assigned to the Greater Milwaukee Synod!! I now get to take the route marked "Milwaukee," overpass and all. It is an adventure waiting to happen and I am thrilled!
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