Current Read

I couldn't do it. I posted a while ago about a book I was going to read, a book that was good for me and different from what I had been reading. I knew it would be a challenge and that I might need a little help. As it turns out, I needed a lot of help and, well, ended up distracted, reading these instead. And yes, they are worth the hype! I'll get back to that other "good for me" one eventually.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and the Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Stieg Larsson

It seems like no matter how early the day starts, no matter how frustrating the situations we find ourselves, no matter how much we chauffeur or cook or clean, no matter how many loads of laundry await or how much homework there is, it seems that the end of the day brings rest. Together we laugh, we catch up, we tell our stories, we cry, we hope, we connect. It's in those moments, at the end of the day, that I can say "I am my beloved's and he is mine" and it is good.

Top Ten Health Reasons to Drink Coffee

Here is an article on the top ten health reasons to drink coffee. Love it. Who cares about the heavenly taste?! Now it's healthy too? Well, we knew that before but here's another dose of proof supporting my case. Haven't had a cup all week thanks to work scheduling but just might go brew a pot (of decaf) right now!

I sent this little note out to a few friends and family earlier today and, after some consideration, thought I'd toss it up here too.

Hey friends,

Over the past several years, I have been thankful for my position at 
the pool. It's been a flexible way to supplement my position at 
Journey. I have been thankful that it has been a bit of a safety net, 
providing an income, over the last several months of transition. It is 
becoming apparent, with the instability of the scheduling at the pool 
and the effects of budget cuts across the city, that it is very likely 
not a long term solution for our family. Unless something changes with 
the city, for stability and sanity, it seems like it would be a good 
time for me to start poking around for a new job.

That's why I'm dropping you this little note. The truth is, I have no 
idea where to look. I'm not sure what i want to do or what's out 
there. But two heads are better than one, right? If you hear of 
anything that you think would be a good fit for me, feel free to let 
me know and, in the meantime, your prayers would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Stacey

I really don't know what I'm looking for. Hopefully by putting a couple heads together, some idea somewhere will start a little brainstorm for me or present the right opportunity and I'll be off!!

It's true...and a little frightening. I see it in the way that I approach the world - very different from the way it was 10 years ago - but, even more dramatic, is the way I see it in the way Colin's girls, my step-daughters, approach the world. They are plugged in kids who hang out with plugged in kids.

In some ways, the use of technology has made so much of what we do easier. Information is more accessible, world wide communication is easier (isn't skype a beautiful thing!?), entertainment is everywhere and we can do things online we never imagined.

From my perspective, though, there are things that are lost. The art of conversation, for example. Family time seems harder to find. Who remembers car rides where you had conversations, listened to music (together) and played silly car games to pass the time? Now there's dvd players, ipods, etc. Patience seems at an all time low. So much is at their fingertips...and ours...and it seems we expect so much more to be immediate. The internet is fast so why shouldn't everything else?

Expectations are different too. Before texting, there was email. Before email there were answering machines. Before answering machines, there were busy signals. We waited. Now, no matter where we are or who we're with, it seems, we jump and make the buzz of the phone a priority. If, heaven forbid, you are one of the few that will let their phone sit, the chance is good that the person on the other end make all sorts of assumptions. You are mad them. There's something wrong. As an employer, perhaps their frustration boils...even on the weekend. We are expected to be accessible all the time but at what cost. And what about the school system? When I was in school (and yes, I recognize that was a long time ago), we did not need ipods, laptops, and internet access everywhere to make our education happen. I recognize that times are changing and I recognize that some of these tools can make learning easier. I see the advantages but, again, at what cost socially, educationally and financially? Then there's the pressure and expectation to "have" these things. Ipods, ipads, phones for everyone in the house (what age is the right age for a cell phone, by the way?), multiple tvs, pvrs (which I admit, I'm addicted to) and computers. 

As I'm trying to figure out what it means to live well and to help raise two girls to live well, there's a lot of questions in my mind where the use of technology is concerned. I know, too, that there are many different opinions to the whole discussion out there. How do we figure out how to utilize the strengths of technology without letting it control us?