Another high point for reality shows

First off, I'm not a fan of reality shows in general. I'll disclaim myself that I haven't even watched more than one episode of Survivor during its past 12 seasons. Having said that ----

The proposal for Survivor's upcoming season just sounds like an incredibly bad idea.

(CBS) In just a couple of weeks, the new season of "Survivor" takes 20 castaways to the Cook Islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. They will be split into four tribes, but how they will do that is guaranteed to be a talking point. For the 13th installment of the series, producers have yet another controversial way to begin the game: 20 people, four tribes — each divided by race.

Racial divides, ethnic pride, viewer division, reinforcing physical stereotypes..

I hope I'll be very wrong and perhaps the winner will indeed be the one that transcends this all to bring all groups together. But I still think it is a bad idea.

The very late 2 y/o Well Baby update

Big Daddy took John to his well baby visit today. (yes, it is a few months late..).

BD's email update to me included the following. I think my workmates across the floor probably heard me laugh!!

Well baby visit went well. Doc wanted to know if john was putting a couple words together to form sentences; When John said that he was 2 years old and that George Washington was the first president the doc commented on how advanced he was. John is in the 10th percentile; no worries. I think he was 26 ½ lbs and 33 in tall. Next checkup is a 3 year visit.

Superlatives...

I tend to heap praises on my little boy. I'll fully admit that I'm a sucker for recognition and admiration myself, and I think it's important to offer praise to others.

I don't mean jumping up and down or clapping every time he eats a cherrio of course. But we clap after singing songs. I'll offer praise for putting on his sandals by himself or identifying his letters correctly. The works "great job" are known to come out of my mouth from time to time (and time and time again!).

We'll talk about how we love something or someone, how we like something, what is good, better and perfect. (like how he "perfectly" lines up his sandal buckets for fastening).

Well.. As usual, my boy picks up my habits. He's taken to use the words "love" and "perfect" quite frequently. As an example, he was helping me set the table tonight. I handed him forks and salad dressing to carry to the table - he placed each atop with the definitive words "That's perfect". He praises Iced Tea, "John loves iced tea".

It's quite adorable now, but I wonder if his use of superlatives will diminish his measure of quality at all. Will my praise of "good job" mean any less to him than "that's perfect"? I think I need to look a bit at how I use these words myself --

John thinking..

A couple of weeks ago, John and I were in the car together. I looked in the rear view mirror as I drove and noticed that John had an inquisitive look on his face. His mouth was scrunched in thought, his finger was to his cheek and his eyes were sky-bound - you get the picture.

I asked him: "John, what are you thinking about?"

His reply, plain and simple: "Cats".

"What about cats, John?" ( as I tried not to laugh in wonder )

"Everything", he said.

There you go, my little boy, pondering the world of cats. I suppose there is a lot to think about from his perspective - like why they walk on four legs rather than two, what they mean when they say meow - this could take all day!

The start of the tough questions..

Today, Big Daddy, John and I drove to church as we do on most Sundays. Our church has a grotto at the entrance to the grounds, with a beautiful large crucifix at the entry. (grotto may not be quite the right word, but you get the idea). As we do each Sunday, we say "hi" to the "big Jesus cross". This is what we call a crucifix or a cross with John: a Jesus cross. Today, came the hard question, one that stumped me as if John had asked where babies came from.

John asked me what Jesus was doing on the cross.

As easy question you say... But, I was stumped for how I was to answer that to a two year-old comprehension level. My husband and I have done a good amount of preaching with children, but this question from my two year-old little boy stumped me.

Big Daddy answered the question in a short, statement manner. We then all entered church and I thought perhaps the curiousity had passed.

At about the half-way mark during Mass, John was getting antsy and we went for a walk. Out into the beautiful sunlight, we strolled on the church grounds to a statue of St. Francis. We stopped to say "hello" and John asked me what St. Francis was holding. "A cross" I said. "No, his other hand, what's the hole in his hand?" was John's reply. (a little slow, but those were his actual words). The stigmata... Now my two-year old son is asking me about the stigmata. I answered this question, something to the effect of: well, St. Francis was very close to Jesus and loved Jesus very much, so he had marks on his hands like where Jesus did from being on the cross. Yes, very elegant and concise, I know....

Here's my quandry - I've often discussed with Big Daddy how we can ensure that our son knows the God & Jesus are real -- how can he differentiate them from the characters on TV for example. It may sound elementary and even silly, but in both cases, these are "people" that we talk about, we see in books and on TV, know their names, etc. I have to trust that when we pray together and attend church, that John is comprehending that God is much greater than Big Bird and that Jesus loves him in a much deeper way than Elmo. Any mom who sees how their toddler reacts to certain characters can understand what I'm saying. I have to trust that Grace and the Spirit are working in John's soul so that he develops an understanding and love of God.

So how can I explain Jesus' death on the cross? How can I explain death? That Jesus' ultimate sacrifice was an act of love? To a two-year old? I'll have to pray on this one, but I'd love to hear any suggestions for when the question come up again.

Jakers!

Jakers! is absolutely genius. (wiki)

We (all three of us!) love this show - story telling computer-generated cartoon sagas of Piggley and his friends, told by Grandpa Piggley himself via narrated format. The stories all take place in old-time Ireland, when Piggley was a boy (boy-pig?). Piggley, Dannan O'Mallard and Fernando Toro are just precious, but the real comedy originates from Wiley the sheep (an emigrant from Brooklyn, evidently from his accent, attitude and dance routine in one episode). My post does not do the show justice, check it out if you have a chance and it is offered in your area.


Here's how PBS summarizes the show, obviously much better than I:

The series follows the adventures of Piggley Winks, a spunky eight-year-old pig, and his friends, Dannan and Ferny, on Raloo Farm in Ireland. While the intrepid trio are enjoying their escapades - "Jakers!" is their oft-used Irish expression of amazement and delight - American transplant Wiley the Sheep is busy offering wild and woolly advice to his all-too-sheepish flock. In an act of "shear" comic genius, renowned funnyman Mel Brooks voices the role of Wiley (an Emmy-nominated performance in 2005!).

The top and tail of each episode feature Piggley in the present day as a grandpa, telling these stories of childhood shenanigans as entertaining lessons in life to his three contemporary, rambunctious city-dwelling grandpigs.

Jakers!

Big Day

I start my new job today. I spent last night picking out the "first day" outfit, getting my bag and purse together etc. I'm a little nervous, knowing I'll be the new kid on the block and have to learn the ropes again.

Yesterday's gospel hit a note with my feel of anticipation:

GospelMk 9:2-10Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John,and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus.Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here!Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.

I may not always understand God's plan for myself or my family (I probably don't understand it or have conscience knowledge of it most of the time !!), but I know it is good for me to be here -in this place, in this moment. Peter didn't understand the miracle he was seeing before him as he witnessed the Transfiguration, he had no idea what to say or how to react. But he knew it was good for him to be there, to witness, and that it would make sense at a later point in time.

I was at my previous job for five years and I had a great deal of flexibility in terms of scheduling and working at home. I took this new position to be closer to home when I need to be in the office, for career growth and for a few other reasons. I hope it was the right decision for our family and for myself. I hope that it will be good that I am there.

Awesome, just awesome

We recently dropped the boy with my brother & sister-in-law last night and went to a concert with some friends. Got there early enough to tail-gate a bit, the rain held out, even the record insanely hot Northeast temps cooled off a bit.

And the Counting Crows and the Goo Goo Dolls put on an awesome show. We've seen CC about half-a-dozen times over the last ten years and I continue to be in awe with Adam Duritz's poignantly sung lyrics and style. Their rendition of Round Here was haunting, emotionally-wretching. I wish Colorblind had made the set list, but I guess I'll have to wait until next time...

Of course, I'm exhausted from recovering from a "night-out", but I'll consider it worth it.