Olivia the Pig

I'm all about the book Olivia by Ian Falconer lately. It's for kids, but I happen to enjoy it a lot. I picked it up a while back for Julia because I found it at Winners, which meant that it was cheap. I had heard that it was a great book. It won the publishers award back when it was released so I figured why not. Well little did I know how Olivia is truly my kindred spirit. Olivia is the spunkiest, sassiest little pig around! She's a wee little diva with a big personality. Julia loves the book too. She's read it so much with Daddy that she has it memorized. She "reads" it to me any time I'm over at her house. The other day as she was "reciting" the book, Julia stopped and acutely observed that Olivia and I are a lot a like. . . she said "Auntie, Olivia likes the colour red just like you!" she also noticed that Olivia likes to sing - just like Auntie! She looked at me and said quite seriously, "Auntie, if Olivia wasn't a pig and if her name wasn't Olivia - this book would be about you! . . . Maybe we should call the book Auntie the Pig!" :) Julia then went on to switch out "Olivia" for "Auntie" as she read the rest of the book. . . I suppose if one looks really closely there is a bit of a resemblance between Olivia and I . . . :)

The Truth about Divadom - By: Professor Prima Diva Donna

With the latest trend in society to call every walking, breathing woman a diva I feel it my duty to clarify a few things. I'll lay it out there with as much grace and tenderness that can come from a "true, bonafide, certified" Diva . . . I'm sorry to say, but the title "Diva" can not be applied to just any woman.

If we examine the history of the word Diva it was originally a term used to celebrate a woman of outstanding talent, beauty and majesty in the world of Opera. I'm truly sorry to break so many poor little un-diva hearts, but that means that at the very least one must be able to SING in order to truthfully live in the Diva realm. And when I say sing, I don't mean in the shower or at the karaoke bar or even to your wee little children who aren't yet able to comprehend that you are in reality squawking like a dying chicken. The term was used by the Italians to refer to a woman with a truly "Divine" voice. Of course there is a similar word that would refer to male singer, but I for one don't see it as necessary to discuss such nonsense. We all know that great sopranos are also great at everything else including: glamour, mystery, beauty, and radiance. We are certainly worthy of adoration for more than just our great voices, but it really does all come down to our teeny tiny infoldings of mucous membrane that stretch across the larynx and vibrate with such magnificent splendour and beauty.

What I'm really saying here is that if you are going to have the gall to call yourself a diva you must first at the very least be able to perform a death defying stellar cadenza popping all of the high C's,D's etc. with extreme skill and beauty, all the while maintaining your glamorous yet mysterious facade. Of course you also must be a master at several other skills, notably these: the maim and destroy all other sopranos skill, the humiliate your accompanist skill, the conduct the conductor with a death glare skill , the upstage ALL others at ALL times skill, the dump your lover at the drop of a dime skill, the over the top hissy fit skill and so much more. Let's be real, if you haven't mastered any of the skills that truly define a Diva at this point in your life, forget about it! You have no hope. You simply don't have what it takes to ever live up to the title. So stop pretending to be a diva and just deal with being ordinary. . .ordinary is um . . wonderful too . . yes it is! Simply wonderful! I personally wouldn't want to be just ordinary, so I do truly understand the desire to proclaim oneself a diva. I truly sympathize with you from the bottom of my heart if you are really just an ordinary person trying to fill the sparkly shoes of an authentic diva. For the sake of all of the bonafide, certified diva's out there can you please just accept who you are and stop abusing and misusing our rightfully earned title. The term "Diva" can only be applied to those who are truly grandiose enough to own such a divine title. :)

Reflection on Michael Jackson's Death

Michael Jackson is dead, and although I'm not one to usually comment on such things, it's hard not to comment on the passing of such an influential artist. I always find it so fascinating to watch how the world reacts to celebrities and more so to their deaths. Even myself, when I heard the news yesterday I was quite shocked - as though I never could have imagined Michael Jackson ever dying. I didn't cry, but I certainly understood how huge his passing would be to the world.

I too am one who would include Michael Jackson as a part of my childhood memories. I recall the day my sister got both the Thriller and Jackson 5 albums for her birthday. For months we would gather around our bright blue Fischer Price record player, slip out the huge round black vinyl records, drop that needle and dance away. We eventually wore out the Thriller record and replaced it with the tape - which would be permanently found in Jen's cool ghetto blaster:) I recall being terrified of the song thriller with Vincent Price's creepy voice and haunting laugh at the end. (I still get creeped out by that part today.) Oh and those times we would attempt to watch the video of dancing Zombie MJ chasing after the girl , without being scared out of our minds were numerous. Then there were my cousins Danny and John who were huge fans. They had the sparkly glove, the doll, the posters, the buttons - I think that Dan even mastered the moon walk :)

With all of those memories in my own small life, no doubt MJ was very influential. He was indeed an incredible artist - pushing the edge with all of his eccentricities. I suppose though that his death really reiterates that he was indeed simply a human being. He made himself appear to be so inhuman, and he became such an icon that he almost seemed immortal. And the reaction of the world yesterday and today and I'm sure over the weeks to come only puts him in the position of idol even more.

I don't know if I'm abnormal or if others think about this when a celebrity dies too, but I can't help but wonder where Michael Jackson is now and what he is experiencing. Being a Christian who often meditates on the after life, it's almost an automatic place where my mind goes. I think it's so interesting that we as men can't help but turn a celebrity into even more of an icon in death. We make them even more inhuman, and forget that they too were fallen men. It's almost ironic to me when I juxtapose all of the earthly images with what I imagine is happening for MJ now. I'm pretty certain that for Michael Jackson all of the fame and idolization has been stripped away. To God, Micheal Jackson is not the "King of Pop". To God, Micheal Jackson is simply a mortal man who met his Maker yesterday. In God's eyes, Michael Jackson has only ever been His child, His creation. Is MJ in heaven? I don't know - that's one of the mysteries of death, not knowing for certain - only God knows. Being the King of Pop with money and celebrity didn't exempt Michael Jackson from death though. I can't help but think that as soon as MJ met God face to face yesterday - that all of the worship, fame, and idolization that he received and even tried to create for himself on earth seemed extremely minute, inconsiderable, frivolous, and even ridiculous compared the reality of the amazing shekhinah glory of the one true God, King of all kings including the king of pop.

It's simple

About a month ago God really took hold of me and specifically said:
"I want you to just do what you do, be who you are, follow where I'm leading, minister where I'm calling and step out for My glory."
Seemed so simple at the time because those are things that I can do with His help. . . . but boy has it ever become apparent how much I get in the way of all that seems simple.

Dandelions

I feel sorry for Dandelions. Why is it that they aren't good enough to be treated just like every other flower. Yes, yes, I know technically they are a "weed" , but they are pretty like other flowers. I was reminded of this when my niece pointed to the "pretty yellow flowers" on the grass the other day and we just ignored her cause they are not "flowers" they are "weeds" yuck. . . . somehow lovely little dandelions have become a "dirty weed". Children always see them as flowers. I remember wanting to pick them as a little girl just like Julia, and would often gather bunches for my Mom or teacher. And when giving them there was always this 'thank you for the thought, but ewww' look on their face. Soon one catches on that they are just a "weed" so don't stop to admire anymore and worry when they pop up on their lawn. Why is it a faux pas to leave them on your lawn? If you ask me the Dandelion is adorable, bright, cheerful and very unique. How many flowers turn into fun white fluff balls that can be blown everywhere? The dandelion is clearly evidence of how our inner most child and natural appreciation for beauty is far too often squashed.

My Favorite Word

Is it weird to have a favorite word? Cause if it is then I'm weird. My Favorite word in the english language has to be 'SASSY'. Just say it - Saaaassssy! Yeah! Say it again . . .
The more I say it the better I feel.
"You're Sassy!" "I'm sassy" "We're all a little Sassy" . . . sassy, sassy sassy!! Doesn't it just make you smile?
The word is great because it has a great meaning too!

Sassy (sās'ē) adj. sas·si·er, sas·si·est
Lively and spirited; jaunty.
Stylish; chic: a sassy little hat.

I suppose I have always unintentionally strived to be a Sassy girl. Particularly on the stage . . . most of the characters I play are pretty sassy, some sassier than others. I never have more fun than when I play those sassy little divas.

Honestly I haven't been feeling all that sassy lately. . . Perhaps as one matures and has to deal with real life the Sass deflates. . . boooo! :(
Well I for one won't stand for deflated Sass!! I refuse to be a boring un-sassy diva.
Watch out cause this diva is bringing Sassy back!!!

The Photoshoot

For my Birthday Lucas and Julia wore their matching "If you think I'm cute you should see my Auntie" T-Shirts. Of Course I saw this as the perfect photo op. . . little did I know that capturing a 7 month old and a 3 yr old in the same frame would be exceptionally difficult. After 49 shots the t-shirt can only be fully read in 1 photo. . . and to get them both looking at the camera at the same time without any tears seemed to be an almost impossible task . . . we did it though. And we managed to capture some silly 3yr old facial expressions and Lucas' adorable sumo wrestler legs, which I simply can't resist. :) Cute . . . just like Auntie :)