Photographer Rose Baca with our neighborsgo publication — which focuses on local neighborhood news — has a list of shots she wants to take before she dies. No. 7: Take pictures from a hot air balloon. She fulfilled that recently 600 feet above Lake Lewisville at the Lions Club Balloon Festival and Fair in Highland Village. Sweet.
So Cool!!
Source: dallasmorningnews
Fair, but also the obesity rate has skyrocketed in that time too. It’s not just because models are skinnier.
Source: part-l-ypoison
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
-Michelangelo
Why am I suddenly reminded of The Vintner’s Luck?
Why am I crying?
Breathtaking…
(via part-l-ypoison)
Source: weissesrauschen
I was having a conversation the other day with a coworker about some random Bill O’Reilly clip I watched. Basically he was stating the difference between the “religion” of Christianity and the “philosophy” of it. Semantics, yes, of course. Some would even think separating the two is blasphemous. These are the type of folks who use the holiday to proselytize their evangelical beliefs that you should be living whatever they feel is a good Christian lifestyle or you are going to Hell.
I am not one of those he “out the Christ back in Christmas” and “Jesus is the reason for the season” people. These people are what make me feel ashamed to admit that I am a Christian. I believe in the religion of Christianity, but it stems from a love of the philosophy of it.
See, I was raised by a father who felt organized religion was the root cause of all evil in the world. BUT - he made sure we grew up going to church (with our mom) and Sunday school. Why? Because he believed that the philosophical teachings of Christ - the love thy neighbor as yourself; do unto others as you would have them do unto you; and he without sin shall cast the first stone ideals - were the best morality for a successful and peaceful society. Blessed are the meek would teach us to not demonize those who had worse luck, or judgement, than we have. Turning the other cheek would allow the cycle of vengeful violence to never begin. You never compromise your beliefs, but you don’t shove them down the throat of others.
That religion of it has been changed (and corrupted) over a couple thousand years, but the ideas are still there.
For a rational Christian - like me - who is not guided by mere emotion and believes God follows the rational thought - Christmas is a difficult holiday. We know that yes, it is based of the pagan celebration of Winter Solstice and that Christ was likely born in the spring, and that makes us shy away from the “CHRISTmas” idea because our more “intellectual” and non-Christian friends like to throw that out as if we are ignorant of our religion’s history. However, it is a holy day, despite it’s origins, that we chose to celebrate the birthday of a man (who was also God, if you are a religious believer) that left us with a philosophy that impacted our lives.
For me, recognizing Christmas is just as important, in some aspects, as recognizing 4th of July. While the signature states July 4, 1776 - it was years afterward that this country was truly free of British rule and had it’s own government. The 4th is a somewhat, but not totally, arbitrary date chosen to celebrate something worth celebrating. The birth of an ideal…one that is not perfect or perfectly executed…but one that should be celebrated and not forgotten.
Christmas is a similar holiday for me. Sure, Dec. 25th is arbitrary. Who cares? If not that date, then what date? I mean, yes we could go back and try to figure out Christ’s ACTUAL birthday….but seriously…I think that’s missing the point. Writing it off as a “corrupted” holiday and saying “everyday should be Christmas!” is also not doing it any justice. The birth of Christ, whether you see him as a religious figure or just a damn good philosopher, is something that should be celebrated. We give “materialistic” gifts, not to support mindless consumerism (we don’t need a holiday for that!) but because Jesus taught one of the best of all life lessons - you can’t take it with you when you go. Giving presents isn’t about spending money, it’s about taking what you have and using it to give someone you know (or don’t know) a little bit more joy in this sometimes depressing life.
Even if you don’t believe in the religion of Christianity, surely you can appreciate the philosophy behind helping the poor and giving to those who are less fortunate.
If you do believe in the religion of it, should you push to exclude other religious beliefs in the joy Christ gives? He didn’t. In the words of the great St. Francis Assisi, and as I’ve ALWAYS believed, “Preach to the world. If necessary, use words”.
Christmas is a time for the most strict Christian to show the rest of the world, regardless of their lot in life, what Christ gave to us. Joy, charity, and love.
Who cares if I say “Happy Holidays!” You know what? I say it because three major holidays run together for Christians (Thanksgiving, Xmas, and New Years). Not because I’m afraid someone will be offended if I say Christmas. I’m not going to be offended if Jew wants to tell me Happy Hanukkah, and I don’t think people should be offended if told Merry Christmas. It’s not always religious…or at least it doesn’t have to be if you don’t want it to be. It can just be about the things Christ stood for, which were honorable ideals by any standard. You don’t have to believe he came down from Heaven to die for your sins. You don’t even have to believe he was real. That’s because the ideas of charity, love, faith, and joy are real regardless - even for an atheist, Jew, Muslim, etc.
Religion is just one part of Christmas. If it is a part of your Christmas, that’s your prerogative. If not, fine by me. I’m tired of having to decide which upsets me more - the idea that Christmas is being downgraded in importance or the people who insist it should only be about (their) religious beliefs. Can’t we all just celebrate the season, which may include the pretend birthday of someone who may or may not be pretend, but stood up and died, at least in the story we were told, for beliefs that are worth dying for. Even those who don’t believe in God or religion or any of it are still honoring the tradition of Christ by participating in the things he stood for (giving, love, joy, etc).
I want to love Christmas for the religiousness, but also for the silliness, of it. For Santa Claus, and reindeer. For parties full of eggnog and friends. For Christmas light displays…and Hanukkah lights too. For the toy drives and the toy stores. For the time with family - in or out of church. Some times, I like to skip the season all together…sometimes I deck the halls to the point my dogs get annoyed by it. I love snowmen and trees surrounded by gifts. Sometimes, the idea of saving up all year to splurge on those you love seems infinitely endearing…sometimes a hassle. I want to show what Christmas means to me. It means nothing, and everything. It’s a time to celebrate the good…to show our best face to humanity. To have your Muslim neighbors bring you baked goods and candies…to volunteer, or bunker down with the ones you love and be glad they were with you for one more season. It’s a time for love. It’s a time to be happy before the cold and dark of winter settle in and we hibernate until Spring.
Christmas is not a war on religion - it is not about a war at all. Christmas is about cheer, in whatever form you can find it. Stop defending and show the world how great it can be. If you want to put the Christ back in Christmas, stop being evangelical and judgmental. Start celebrating. Be joyous and kind - wish peace on earth and goodwill toward men.
All I ever wanted to be when I was a kid was Miss Piggy.
(via part-l-ypoison)
SOMEONE BOUGHT THIS FOR THEIR BOSTON!!
Source: fuckyeahbostonterriersShea is a Tyrannosaurus-Rex for Halloween this year!
Life goal - To be as happy as my dog in this photo all the time. All day, every day.
Truth is; it just isn’t that easy. Human beings have the unique capacity to make our happiness almost entirely dependent on other people. We are social creatures who have a hard time making ourselves happy, so we ask other people to do it for us.
I hate that my happiness is so dependent on others, but to have happiness independent of friends, family, etc would mean that none of them meant anything to me. If I didn’t care about them I wouldn’t care that they’ve said something hurtful or been too busy to hang out or not inviting me somewhere…or whatever it is that makes me hurt.
Which makes me wonder - which is worse? A blissful ignorant existence where I am content but I have no connection to anyone….or a roller coaster life where I have friends and family who make me feel incredibly loved but sometimes do things that hurt my feelings?
That makes it sound so very different, doesn’t it? Now I’m not letting others influence my happiness so much as I am in control of what I take away from the relationship. Am I getting more good than bad? Any good? Those are the questions that really matter, I suppose. None of us are perfect - I’m sure I’ve hurt others (completely unintentionally) and I’m as blind to it as those are who’ve hurt my feelings in the past.
But what do you do when the bad is greater than the good? What do you do when the hurt eclipses the joy? Walk away from a friendship? Take a break? Get some space? What happens when space turns into drifting apart? How do you let go of something that means so much when it is over something relatively petty (assuming you even know what it is)?
I wonder if, as an adult, I’ll ever have answers to these kinds of questions. I fear we never figure it out, though. How do you be a good friend without being taken advantage of, or at least misconstrued? misaligned even?
I don’t want this to sound too emo - I’m an incredibly lucky girl who is incredibly loved. I know that - I lose sight of it but deep down I know it’s true. I have amazing friends (and dogs and my husband!) who are wonderful people. But sometimes, the planets realign and I have a hard time getting my orbit adjusted. It’s hard not to feel out of place when you’re like me. I spent most of my life being out of place - in my family, school, hometown…hell, even at TCU. I’m still trying to find my niche in life, but I’m starting to wonder if, really, it is just more of a small nook - tucked away from most of the heavy traffic.
I’m just trying to find that perfect balance - where my focus is on the good, and the good is so abundant that I feel as happy as Lucky in that photo, all the time.
I WANT THEM ALL. RIGHT NOW!
Source: fuckyeahbostonterriersMy puppy (the fatso in the front) with her sibs. PUPPY BELLIES! So cute.
“I had lots of secret squirrels that day doing a great many things - but you were my favorite one.”
A year ago, I did not come to work on Monday. In fact, I probably slept in because I knew the next few days were going to be the craziest of my life, thus far. Like moving into the dorm my freshman year of college, but, you know, x100. Tuesday, I went into hyper cleaning mode. I was just 4 days away from making the transition from life partner to wife. I was going to gain a husband. I was 4 days away from the insanity that was my life changing back into the bliss it was before the crazy wedding planning started. 4 days away from the fulfillment of the work and stress and fighting and planning of the past year (and 3 months).
I was 4 days away from donning a dress that I still wish I could wear every day. For laughs I may put it on again this year, maybe. It was my lacy, frilly wonder of a dress that made me feel beautiful without any hair or makeup being done. That’s the only requirement, in my opinion, of what a wedding dress should be. It’s the garment you own that makes you instantly feel sexy, beautiful, and perfect.
My head goes into a spin when I think about my life just one year ago. How things have changed. What makes this past year so much more special that previous years? I guess I’ve been forced to grow up a little faster than usual, or because I’ve reach the age where you learn to embrace (for lack of a better term) your insecurities. Not that they don’t exist, but I’m at peace with them. They are my cross to bear, and bear them I shall.
I’m happy spending an entire weekend at home with Brent just goofing off and cleaning and being lazy - on a regular basis. Yes, I still miss hanging out with my friends, and I’d like to be more social - but I’ve replaced my fear that “no one likes me” with a “so what if they don’t?!” attitude. It’s not that it doesn’t sting when a group of people that I think of as good friends don’t come to my birthday party or all go out together and we’re not invited - BUT - it’s not heartbreak inducing. It’s just more of a “c’est la vie” kind of thing. AND I do have some AMAZING friends who, due to distance or work or the requirements of their own personal lives, are a constant force. Who are there when I need them and provide companionship and entertainment that makes up in quality for what it lacks in quantity.
I love my dogs like they are our children. Even when they are obnoxious or bratty. Or expensive - which is their biggest flaw. But my love for my dogs is another blog for another day.
It’s not that being married has suddenly made me “complete” or made me figure out who I am - quite the contrary. My life, my role in my relationship, and how I prioritize things is ever-changing (and will probably stay that way). I’m not more secure because I’ve got a man “taking care of me”. I have more to worry about now - letting him down, pissing him off, or if he’s going to leave me. (Note, not really worried about this, but the consequences of these actions are bigger than ever, so logically it should be more worrisome)
Four days from today will be the anniversary of the day I married my partner in crime. The day we decided that this relationship was an adventure that needed the stakes to be raised. The day after we contemplated never showing up to the rehearsal dinner and just running away. They day after we didn’t do that. The day I had to coach him through the entire wedding ceremony because he was so deep in his own thoughts that he was NOT paying attention to what was going on (This would probably be good evidence to get the marriage annulled if he wanted to, LOL). The day he didn’t take a single photo at the reception without a beer in his hand. The day we met our friends at Stan’s Blue Note and were the last ones to go home (except for an undisclosed friend who walked home from our apartment because he wasn’t in a state to drive).
The day I woke up at 7:00am and didn’t fall back asleep until 4:00am. Happiest day of my life? Hard to remember, but it was one of the most memorable to date. Only regret? I wish I had someone video the ceremony. I’d love to hear the music and see Brent fidgeting on the altar. Oh well, at least I have great photos and good stories to tell. And the dress - I can always just wear the dress again.
We need to get these floaties for the boys.
Source: fuckyeahbostonterriersMy favorite day I’ve ever had at a pool. Penny and Megan floating around and Brian getting mauled by Murph
This reminds me of my Lucky Pants! I love Bostons!!
Source: fuckyeahbostonterriersSomewhere is seriously such a goofball.
Sorry for the lack of posting, folks. My life has been a little crazy lately. I’ll be coming back, though. Promises.
