James Cameron’s AVATAR is in theaters today. What about this movie interests you the most?
Sponsored by AVATAR. In theaters December 18. Buy tickets now.
Special effects of course :)
I think we're going to see it tomorrow afternoon to try to avoid the crowds.
Read because: I'm listening to all the HP books on CD
Borrowed from: the Sacramento Library
Rating: 8 out of 10
Synopsis: Harry is back and in fine form in the third installment of his adventures at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His summer with the hideous Dursley family is cut short when, during a fit of quite understandable rage, he turns his Aunt Marge into an enormous balloon and then runs away. Soon, it becomes quite apparent that someone is trying to kill him; even after Harry is ensconed in the safety of fall term at Hogwarts, the attacks continue. Myriad subplots involving a new teacher with a secret, Hermione's strangely heavy class schedule, and enmity between Ron's old rat, Scabbers, and Hermione's new cat, Crookshanks, all mesh to create a stunning climax. The pace is nonstop, with thrilling games of Quidditch, terrifying Omens of Death, some skillful time travel, and lots of slimy Slytherins sneaking about causing trouble.
My review: I really like book 3 of the series. Things get really dark, with omens of death for Harry, a mass murderer on the loose, and some really close calls for the three wizards. I also love the introduction of Sirius Black (played by Gary Oldman in my head), who is one of my favorite characters in the entire series. He's extra crazy in this book, and it's really fun to watch Rowling develop his character, not to mention the characters of other adults in the book -- Snape, James Potter, Pettigrew, and Lupin. I also really like Lupin in this book, and how he gives support to Harry when most others write him off. And once again, Jim Dale is the best audio book reader out there. (Finished 11/23/09)
Recommended by: a bunch of people. Plus I'd read other books by Bell.
Purchased from: A Borders going-out-of-business sale, at 80% off. Woot.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Synopsis: "Is sex a picture of heaven?" Bell wonders. It's all about God and sex and heaven, he says: "...they're connected. And they can't be separated. Where the one is you will always find the other." It's the story of God becoming human, of humans mirroring God and love made manifest in the chaos of our humanity. Sex God is about relationships revealed in a way that elevates the human condition and offers hope to those whose relationships are wounded. In Bell's spare, somewhat oblique style, he addresses lust, respect, denial, risk, acceptance and more. He does a fine job using the Bible and real life to show that our physical relationships are really about spiritual relationships. This book joyfully ties, and then tightens, the knot between God and humankind.
My Review: I feel like I should have read this a long time ago. I've had it for a while and I read it in less than twenty-four hours. It was a wonderful picture of what God has set out marriage and sex to be. Bell really delves into how the spiritual and the physical come together and how our relationships here are a picture of God's relationship with us. It's fascinating, really. Bell's style takes a little getting used to -- it's sparse and really uses the white space on a page. This book, though, was probably the least-difficult to handle visually (compared to his other books). I wish I had it with me so I could quote from it a bit. Anyway, I highly recommend this book, especially to high schoolers and people who work with them. I could have used some of this information back in my youth-leading days.
Well, the last order dates for the holidays have passed, and Santa's final sacks of festive MOOs are filling up fast. We're still taking new orders though, and we'll be shipping them out as fast as we can - so don't hesitate to order thank you cards for all your lovely pressies!
Just so you know, here's our warehouse and customer service closure dates over the holiday season.
Thursday 24th December - LIMITED HOURS: we'll be shipping orders in the morning, but going home in the afternoon to wrap presents.
Friday 25th December - CLOSED : we'll be at home feasting on mince pies and turkey.
Monday 28th December - UK CLOSED: we'll be buying new trousers to fit our expanded waistlines!! (please note this is a UK Holiday only).
Tuesday 29th December - OPEN: business as usual.
Wednesday 30th December - OPEN: business as usual.
Thursday 31st December - OPEN: business as usual.
Friday 1st January - CLOSED : we'll be trying out our New Year resolutions and nursing hangovers.
Monday 4th January - OPEN: that's it, holidays over, back to work!
It's also important to note that our StickerBook turnaround in the UK is severely delayed over the holidays. Any orders placed after the 20th December will not be dispatched until the week of the 4th January.
That's all for now - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the MOO Warehouse Crew!
A Christmas present Brett ordered for me came in the mail yesterday...he couldn't wait for me to open it and since it drives me crazy to see presents under the tree and I ask for a million hints I wasn't opposed to opening it. (how's that for a run on sentence?)
It was a clarinet!!! Oh and I was excited!! The first words out of my mouth were "I think I still have my old sheet music!!!" So I jump up and dig them out and sat on the couch for a good 2 hours playing. I have to admit, I had to google some of the fingerings but it all totally came back to me. I'd play a song and yell to Brett in the other room "Do you know what song that was?!"
I did tell him that I don't know how much I'll play it so he can't ask me why I don't have it out everyday. He was like "well, as long as you're happy tonight with it that's worth the money to me" awwwww
I really am spoiled...I'll totally admit it.
Just a re-blog of Media Militia's giveaway for today, Drips and Spray Paint brushes for Photoshop.
I just walked into the kitchen and found Mr FD standing at the bench waiting for the kettle to boil to make his coffee. He was murmuring "My husband and I..." to himself.
I know that I am a goddess, but I have no intention of delivering a Christmas message ... too much caffeine?
January 1st
The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Before we go any further, let us all be clear on what a milk maid was - milkmaids were historically women, usually young, who milked cows and supplied milk. They also prepared the dairy products such as cream, butter, and cheese. The term is not a female equivalent of milkman – or any other modern day reconstruction! Though milkmaids did have a reputation as being predisposed to love or sex, or maybe love AND sex.
In 1796, a scientist, Edward Jenner, was told that milk maids with cowpox did not contract smallpox. Jenner then rubbed pus from the milkmaid's cowpox sores into scratches on the arm of an eight- year-old boy. As expected, the boy contracted. cowpox, but after six weeks he made a full recovery. A few weeks later Jenner tried to infect the boy with smallpox, and couldn't. The cowpox virus helped to give smallpox immunity.
“Yawning for the Cheshire Cheese" was a game for tired souls in Cheshire, when towards the hour of midnight, awaiting the New Year, a game of yawning commenced more or less automatically. The one who yawned the widest and longest, but so naturally as to set the others yawning, was declared the winner and took home the cheese as a just reward.
Why Eight Milk Maids ? To represent The Eight Beatitudes of course!
The Eight Beatitudes
1 Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
3 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
4 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
5 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
6 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
7 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
8 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3-10
The book of St. Luke states that, in accordance with Jewish tradition and law, eight days after his birth Jesus was circumcised and named. Mary and Joseph named their son Jesus because the angel told them that "he will save his people". Jesus, in Hebrew Joshua, means "the Lord will save".
In English tradition, January 1st is a day to remember godparents. Children would go to visit their godparents to receive a blessing and a gift. Being a godparent was a serious responsibility, for godparents were not only expected to teach the faith to their godchildren, but they were also the people who would take a child into their own home if the child's parents were to die. Remember that in days of past this was a frequent occurrence. Godcakes, a pastry that could be given either by godparents to their godchildren, or by the children to their godparents were exchanged.
GODCAKE
"God Cakes" of Coventry were very popular. They were of all sizes, some so small they sold for a penny and some so large they sold for a pound, and they were not really cakes at all, but a sort of tart with a filling and cut in a triangle.
INGREDIENTS
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup currants
- 1/3 cup lemon peel
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- puff paste or pie dough
DIRECTIONS
Mix the butter and sugar thoroughly, and add the currants, lemon peel, and spices. Heat in a double boiler for a few minutes and then allow the filling to cool before using.
Make a puff paste (or use your richest pie dough) and roll out 1/4 inch thick and cut into 3-inch squares. Place a teaspoon of the filling in one corner of each square. Moisten the edges of the pastry and fold over from corner to corner to make a triangle; seal the edges with a fork.
Bake at 450° F for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350° F and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until brown.
Recipe Source: Feast Day Cookbook by Katherine Burton and Helmut Ripperger, David McKay Company, Inc., New York, 1951
At St. Albans cakes were made in the form of a woman and were called locally "pope ladies," but neither legend nor history tell why!
How to Braid a Milkmaid Braid :
http://www.ehow.com/how_4425717_braid-milkmaid-braid.html
Hope you like them. Merry Christmas everyone!
Mr FD is giving me a GPS for my car as my Christmas present. He knows that I have no sense of direction and I am quite convinced that he hopes that should I ever decide to run away, that I can run, far, far, away.
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