SIX DAYS, SIX MOVIES
I'm not sure if I've ever gone to 2 movies in 2 days, let alone 6 in a row. But there are a lot of good movies out there and we are fortunate to have a theater in town that keeps some movies around for a few months. We loved every one of them and find it hard to rate one above another.
Christmas Day: "Up in the Air"---went with our kids Laura and Bob and we all loved it.
Saturday: "It's Complicated"---Meryl Streep was great as ususal.
Sunday: "Invictus"---an inspiring perspective on Nelson Mandela
Monday: "The Serious Man"---Fantastic, if you appreciate the nuance of the Coen Brothers
Tuesday: "Julie and Julia"---great fun; see it before it leaves the theaters.
Wednesday: "The Education"---good period piece---1960s in the UK
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
CARLTON GARDENS CHRISTMAS COFFIN SPECIAL!
For 2 years John has been promising he would make our coffins. We read the story of how Ruth Graham was buried in a plywood coffin and Billy will be buried the same way. John completed them 2 weeks ago and they are forsale at Carlton Gardens---serving now as shelving. (He will make new ones if they sell.) We have a Christmas special going ($149 down from $159). The every day specials offer a discount when a coffin is purchased with an Adirondack chair or a pair of stilts (both designed and constructed by John).Here are the coffins, mine and John's. What a deal!
For 2 years John has been promising he would make our coffins. We read the story of how Ruth Graham was buried in a plywood coffin and Billy will be buried the same way. John completed them 2 weeks ago and they are forsale at Carlton Gardens---serving now as shelving. (He will make new ones if they sell.) We have a Christmas special going ($149 down from $159). The every day specials offer a discount when a coffin is purchased with an Adirondack chair or a pair of stilts (both designed and constructed by John).Here are the coffins, mine and John's. What a deal!
Monday, December 21, 2009
SPEAKING THE TRUTH
I should not begrudge anyone who is grieving for speaking in euphemisms but I do wish sometimes that we could just say it like it is. Yesterday John and I were ushered down the aisle to a pew at La Grave Avenue Christian Reformed Church by Larry. Then I noted in the bulletin that Larry, his siblings and parents were named for the floral arrangements: "The flowers on the chancel today are in loving memory of Sandra Anne Duyst, daughter, sister and aunt. Born December 29, 1959, the Lord blessed us with 40 years of joy with her in this life. She was called to our heavenly home on March 29, 2000." What if, instead of called to our heavenly home the bulletin note had read: "she was murdered by her husband, a Christian Reformed Church deacon who had taken out a $500,000 life insurance policy on her and was having an adulterous affair. May he remain incarcerated every advent season and every day of the year for the rest of his life."
I remember the incident so well. One of my seminary colleagues said "I have to wonder if she might have been contentious." WHAT, I screamed, are you suggesting that if she was contentious that could even remotely begin to explain it! Who knows, she may have been contentious, but if he could no longer endure her contentiousness he could simply divorce her and then run off with the other woman. O, that's right, he wouldn't get the insurance money. So I guess contention is a reason (though not justification) for murder.
He still claims his innocence---contending that she committed suicide. The only problem with that theory is that she took 2 bullets straight in the head. She could have shot herself in the head once but not twice with such good aim. PLUS, the crime-scene blood spattering showed the bullet wounds were not self-inflicted. Other evidence proved to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty.
This unspeakably awful crime split 2 CRC families and was a horrible ordeal for the 3 school-age children, not knowing who to believe and which side of the family to support. I don't know where the family situation stands now, though he is serving a life sentence in a federal facility in St. Louis.
I should not begrudge anyone who is grieving for speaking in euphemisms but I do wish sometimes that we could just say it like it is. Yesterday John and I were ushered down the aisle to a pew at La Grave Avenue Christian Reformed Church by Larry. Then I noted in the bulletin that Larry, his siblings and parents were named for the floral arrangements: "The flowers on the chancel today are in loving memory of Sandra Anne Duyst, daughter, sister and aunt. Born December 29, 1959, the Lord blessed us with 40 years of joy with her in this life. She was called to our heavenly home on March 29, 2000." What if, instead of called to our heavenly home the bulletin note had read: "she was murdered by her husband, a Christian Reformed Church deacon who had taken out a $500,000 life insurance policy on her and was having an adulterous affair. May he remain incarcerated every advent season and every day of the year for the rest of his life."
I remember the incident so well. One of my seminary colleagues said "I have to wonder if she might have been contentious." WHAT, I screamed, are you suggesting that if she was contentious that could even remotely begin to explain it! Who knows, she may have been contentious, but if he could no longer endure her contentiousness he could simply divorce her and then run off with the other woman. O, that's right, he wouldn't get the insurance money. So I guess contention is a reason (though not justification) for murder.
He still claims his innocence---contending that she committed suicide. The only problem with that theory is that she took 2 bullets straight in the head. She could have shot herself in the head once but not twice with such good aim. PLUS, the crime-scene blood spattering showed the bullet wounds were not self-inflicted. Other evidence proved to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty.
This unspeakably awful crime split 2 CRC families and was a horrible ordeal for the 3 school-age children, not knowing who to believe and which side of the family to support. I don't know where the family situation stands now, though he is serving a life sentence in a federal facility in St. Louis.
Friday, December 18, 2009
GOOGLE MY PHOTO
Carlton recently pointed out that when he'd googled my name pics showed up on the screen, including one of me that I posted, showing my hair looked so awful that I was compelled to stay home from church (See below, 4-27-08). Maybe the last entry I posted with me and a dead possum and rifle will get there as well. AND, if I'm lucky this one will soon appear.
Friend Sarah from London wrote this on her blog (4-4-08): "I was looking for something quick to draw before bedtime, and started giggling over my friend's March 1st blog entry about skiing topless. She got kicked out of her teaching job at an ultra-conservative Calvinist seminary awhile back, but I'm sure I have no idea why."
Sarah illustrated a recently-released children's book. From a reviewer: "must be the most revolting picture book of the year! Morris the Mankiest Monster just gets worse and worse as you read aloud the rhyming text, snot, ear wax, pustules...it's really hard to keep going. This book needs a warning to parents - they're going to have to read it over and over again - children will absolutely love it."
Carlton recently pointed out that when he'd googled my name pics showed up on the screen, including one of me that I posted, showing my hair looked so awful that I was compelled to stay home from church (See below, 4-27-08). Maybe the last entry I posted with me and a dead possum and rifle will get there as well. AND, if I'm lucky this one will soon appear.
Friend Sarah from London wrote this on her blog (4-4-08): "I was looking for something quick to draw before bedtime, and started giggling over my friend's March 1st blog entry about skiing topless. She got kicked out of her teaching job at an ultra-conservative Calvinist seminary awhile back, but I'm sure I have no idea why."
Sarah illustrated a recently-released children's book. From a reviewer: "must be the most revolting picture book of the year! Morris the Mankiest Monster just gets worse and worse as you read aloud the rhyming text, snot, ear wax, pustules...it's really hard to keep going. This book needs a warning to parents - they're going to have to read it over and over again - children will absolutely love it."
Thursday, December 10, 2009
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