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gogh_gurl
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Name: Erica
Birthday: 7/8/1985
Gender: Female
Interests: I might be a little eclectic in my interests. Strawbale houses, reformed theology, humor writing, eco friendly construction, books of all sorts, practical Christianity, dogs, gardening, knitting and knit design, New Urbanism, nutrition, organic living, journalism... what am I *not* interested in?
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
6/21/2004
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| Hasta La VistaAfter more than three years, I am leaving Xanga. Y'all knew it had to happen sometime. I sort of feel like I should have a funeral.
But -- in case the 3 people who still read this blog are ready to cry, never fear. I am starting fresh. I am reinventing. Streamlining, sprucing up, cleaning house. I am moving to blogger.
So change your bookmarks, from now on everything will be here.
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| One DayI just finished reading a book called "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. It was my first tiny toe dip into Russian literature -- a category that I've been intimidated by for years. Russian lit has always seemed so dark and gloomy.
Well, "One day" is set in a Russian gulag in the 50's --- pretty dark and gloomy. But even so, it's not oppressive. We follow Ivan Denisovich Shukhov through his day, from waking to sleeping. The writing is spare. It has short sentences, short words, but is powerful -- like an eloquent man speaking when he is cold, and hungry, and tired.
The book is good, it is a book that doesn't just entertain, but actually makes you reflect on things like loyalty, trust, nobility of spirit, and the effect of religion on people's ability to endure and thrive in hardship. Highly recommended.
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| Monthly ResolutionI just had an idea -- maybe a good one, for me.
Everyone talks about making a New Years resolution (though talk is usually about as far as those go). Why not make a Monthly Resolution? That seems a whole lot more doable to me.
The watch word for me this coming month is going to be diligence. Despite several setbacks at work, I'm finally starting to hit my stride (though this could just be a moment of crazed optimism talking). With my new schedule set, it's time to get it together at home as well. I promised myself that if I got a good schedule that I would be able to accomplish so much more around here, but so far I'm just barely keeping up.
I think that if I'm able to maintain a month of sustained effort in my home life (the way I have at work this last month) I should be able to establish good habits and a workable routine. The hope is that in the end I'll be able to spend time with the family, take care of my chores, run errands, and do projects in the mornings; and then exercise, shower, write and have my quiet time before bed when I get home.
Here's to hoping and hard work. | | |
| Buying a CarI'm buying a car soon, and thinking about what to get. The Mazda Protege caught my eye this afternoon. Have y'all heard anything (good or bad) about these?
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| Some thoughts on private worshipUsually I don't even realize that I've slipped until one day I'm in church and look up and realize that I haven't cracked open my Bible since the previous Sunday. Then there is guilt, but excuses are made. I've been busy, I'm tired, and hey -- this week without hasn't been too bad, right?
It's supposed to be daily bread I know, but I just finished that last study and I'm not sure what I should do next. I'll think about it, maybe I'll get a new book to help guide my study this time. And so another week rolls by. But I've not turned into a raving heathen from two weeks out of the Word.
I'm trying to find a good book to help me study, that's all. Plus there's all this stress at work, I really don't need pressure at home too, okay? All of these books are so *boring* -- why can't anyone write in plain English, in a way that doesn't make me want to fall asleep? And ugh, all this trash that's out from modern authors, it makes me ashamed for them. I'll deal with this later, I can't handle it right now.
Sunday again. When did I last meditate on my own? Or pray? Or read? Daily bread -- right. Shouldn't my life be a mess right now since I've neglected Him so badly if I really love and need God the way I say I do? Shouldn't I be more distraught? My life is fine! Except that I'm stressed out all the time, and cranky. My patience is razor thin, and I complain all the time. I've been overindulgent and undisciplined. I've not met any of the goals I've set for myself in a month. I'm distracted, frazzled, and generally frustrated. Alright. Maybe not so fine.
How can a person be so out of tune with themselves? Continue in something for so long completely blind to the downward slide?
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