Reality and TV

I'm watching one of the five thousand reality shows on television right now. I remember when the reality show first started hitting the scene. When I was in high school, The Real World was introduced on MTV. This may not have been the first reality show, but it's the first I really remember. My first thought was, "I can't wait to get on my own reality show!" But now, I'm just horrified by what has happened to the genre. When will it end? A "Weird" Al song about television talks about watching lions eating Christians. It was funny when that song came out, the phrase was funny. It's too close to the truth now to be amusing. People...the television industry will only stop the madness when we truly stop watching. Why are we watching people behave badly for entertainment? A future bride abusing everyone involved with her wedding is not cute. Watching a family break up and then stalking them through their separation is not fun. Finding a life partner through a pool of possibilities on television through a series of dates that turn into makeout sessions is not classy. When we all start respecting ourselves and each other, this insanity will stop. Am I downing all reality television? Not at all. I appreciate reality shows with a point and don't have a problem with most reality competitions (American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Hell's Kitchen). These shows are not as much about these people's personal lives as about their professional skills. A competition is good for the spirit. But we just have to stop prying into everyone's personal lives, even celebrities. They have public jobs, they should not have public lives. And I don't need to know their political views. Oy vey!

Support Our Troops

Yesterday, I spent time with Eric Horner's Ministries at Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC. It was a blessing I would not have expected. He sang at two chapel services in the morning and sang at a concert in the afternoon. I was grateful to be able to talk to young soldiers in training and hear their stories. It was an honor to serve those serving us. Folks, I'm telling you, we owe them a debt we cannot repay, and most of them are just babies. They were so young. I wish there was more we could do to support them. Please take a few minutes and say a prayer for our soldiers everyday. It's the very least we can do and one of the most important things we can do. Also, if you get a chance, take a look at Eric Horner's websites.

http://www.erichorner.com/
http://www.victoryconcerts.com/

Restored At Last?

O Israel, return to the LORD your God,
For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;
Take words with you,
And return to the LORD.
Say to Him,
"Take away all iniquity;
Receive us graciously,
For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips."

--Hosea 14:1-2

Sounds like a pertinent quote for our country. I get so tired and discouraged watching the news. How hard are our people's hearts! I don't pray enough for our country to turn back to God. I think that should be a new goal.

Ummmm.....

Wow. It's been a long time. I will try to update this week. Sorry, everyone!

Love Stinks

If love is the answer, could you rephrase the question? -- Lily Tomlin

Well, well, it's about that time again. Time for me to whine and moan about romance. I do this just every so often. I had stopped for a while when I was married, but since the divorce, I find myself falling back into the routine. Meet someone (or a couple of someones), spend time with them, get excited about the possibility, get rejected or learn something unwanted, get mad at the world. This is how I operate. I would say it's working for me, but..ahem...maybe not. I suppose it's just life, and there's no reason to be mad at the world. Just the same, although I had been excited about the prospect of dating again, I think I'm going to take a break. I've just been dating for a few weeks, but once you get a couple of guys in the mix, well, it just gets exhausting. Who likes what? Who works where? Who's not a serial killer? I mean, who can remember all this stuff? Some days I look at myself in the mirror and struggle to remember my name.

Anyway, the living history at Kings Mountain was fantastic! We watched movies in the amphitheater and had popcorn in our helmets before camping out in tents only to rise early and greet the public. I was fortunate enough to actually be able to speak to a couple of WWII vets, and it made the whole thing worthwhile! Come see my guys at the Charlotte Museum of History this Saturday from 10 - 5.

Long Time, No Speak

I have been looking for a smart, relevant quote for today's blog, but it was taking too long, and I need to get to work. Sorry, readers, you're missing out on a quote today. You'll probably forgive me. I hope so anyway.

My life has been a whirlwind lately. I have been out of town for the last two weekends and will be out of town next weekend as well. I have enjoyed the last two weekends as they were family related, but I am looking forward to next weekend...Kings Mountain - Military through History! My WWII re-enacting group will be heading there to participate. They said this was a great event last year, and I am looking forward to being involved this year. If you can make it out there, by all means, go! It should be great. There will be quality re-enactors from several time periods. And, of course, moi!

I will have more to post this afternoon, but for now, I just wanted to put a little plug out there for me and my boys. :-)

Swine Flu and more!

I don't really have much to say about the swine flu (H1 N1 or whatever). I just wanted to hop on the hype bandwagon. SWINE FLU?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There. Now I can be considered part of the media.

On a more serious note, I've been trying to do less thinking lately and more living based on instinct and gut. What have I learned? Well, I might overthink things, but that's probably better than the not thinking at all decision. I don't feel like myself to fly by the seat of my pants and never think anything through. I mean, yes, I have been known to make spontaneous decisions, but then I think and think and think about it afterwards - usually in an effort to clean up whatever mess I made. Haha! I'm not a kid anymore, but I'm also not a senior citizen reflecting on a long life well lived. I have a lot to do and accomplish, and I just want to make the most of the time I have. My most frequent prayer lately is for wisdom to know God's will and to simply have more wisdom in general. I know to err is human, but do I have to make so MANY mistakes?