Reading Pains

I have always read my Outlook emails through a reading pane on the bottom.  Many times, I tried to move it to the right-hand side (just for kicks), but I could never get used to it and inevitably moved it back.  I did this for 4 1/2 years.

Suddenly, at Chick-fil-A, I only want my reading pane on the right-hand side.  A few minutes ago, I thought about this oddity and decided to move it to the bottom, but it felt bizarre.  So I switched it back.  I am, if you will, a Right Reading Pane Convert.

I have absolutely nothing to say about this, other than I think it's SO WEIRD that a little idiosyncratic taste like reading pane position can change on a whim. I suppose it's like the day I started liking tomatoes.  Or the one when I abruptly decided that my lifelong penchant for personalized musical ringtones was over, and I'd rather my phone just ring.  (Sayonara, "American Girl," "Summertime," "All I Want for Christmas Is You," "Toxic," "I Like the Way You Move," "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa."  I never want to hear any of you again.)

Gia's Situation

"She tells Jake that she’s never met guy as deep as him. Considering the fact that she’s from New York and that the dating pool consists of guys like Pauly D and The Situation from Jersey Shore, I actually believed her. "

http://www.guyinaustin.blogspot.com/

Ash Wednesday

"Lent, therefore, is a time for focusing on the heart, a time for asking questions about our spiritual health:

• What are my characteristic sins, and how can I work and pray for change?
• What idols have captured my imagination so that my love for the living God has grown cold?
• In what ways is my devotion to Christ and his church less than wholehearted?

The Lenten season is the spiritual equivalent of an annual physical exam; it’s a time to take stock of our lives, our hearts."

Craig R. Higgins, "On Keeping a Holy Lent"

Fat Tuesday

laissez les bons temps rouler

laissez les bons temps rouler (lay-say lay bawn tawmp ru-lay): A Cajun French expression meaning, "let the good times roll!"  The phrase strongly conveys the joie de vivre attitude of South Louisiana, although it is considered by many to be a cultural cliche.


p.s.  I let my good times roll with Ippolito's, sweet tea and Lost with friends.  We so crazy.

A snowy night in Athens

My favorite Super Bowl commercial

Google has other great "Search Stories" here.

Making meaningful sense

Portland Monthly recently published an interview between "renowned atheist" Christopher Hitchens (author of God Is Not Great) and Unitarian minister Marilyn Sewell.  I found this particular exchange interesting:

Sewell: The religion you cite in your book is generally the fundamentalist faith of various kinds. I’m a liberal Christian, and I don’t take the stories from the scripture literally. I don’t believe in the doctrine of atonement (that Jesus died for our sins, for example). Do you make and distinction between fundamentalist faith and liberal religion?

Hitchens: I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian.


JM: I find it both fascinating and heart-breaking that an atheist can sum up the gospel of Christ in such a concise manner, and do so much more accurately than a "Christian."


Thanks to Justin Taylor for directing me to this article.

Keep Calm

What do you look at while you work on your computer?

First Time Design!

My sweet former roommate and dear friend Hannah is going to be on HGTV tomorrow!

Read her blog post here.  Check out the show page at HGTV.com here.  And, most importantly, tune in tomorrow to First Time Design - Saturday, January 23 at 2:30pm.

Yay Hannah!

Random Thoughts

My dear friends Jessica and Matt got married yesterday. I love them both so much, and the whole wedding weekend was just lovely and perfect (well, except for the little window where I got sick!).  They are such sweet friends, and Jessica did an amazing job of making the wedding so beautiful and fun!  Even though I can't wait to visit them in San Diego, I'm very sad because I miss Jessica so much already.

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Are you watching the Golden Globes coverage on E! right now?  Man, I love award shows.  So far, my favorite looks are Lea Michele and Marion Cotillard.  And speaking of Ryan Seacrest, get excited for American Idol.  I can't wait for Ellen to start!!

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Right now, I'm in a six-week training course with Chick-fil-A.  It is awesome.  Everyday, I am more and more amazed that I get to work at such an incredible company with such incredible people.  That said, I don't have too much time at my laptop because I'm in classes/meals/studying for at least 12 hours a day (ie, limited blogging).  My class concludes with me working in a CFA unit for a week.  I'll be at Beechwood in Athens - yay!

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I've decided to start listening to NPR more.

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Have you tried a Bump-It?  Jen and Emily had Bump-Its this weekend.  We laughed at first, but man did that thing work.  Emily's hair looked awesome through the whole weekend.  It created the perfect poof.  I think I might be sold.

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Team Conan.

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If you haven't already, I hope that you will take time to support the relief efforts in Haiti.  There are so many EASY ways to donate money; it takes 10 seconds to text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross's relief efforts.  You can also donate through Compassion International, one of the finest organizations I know, here.  More than anything, pray for God's provision for the people and families who have been affected.  He alone is good.

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That is all for now.
xoxo
jamie