Penny From Heaven

I just started reading this children's book Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm. I picked it from my shelf of books for my future classroom and read a 100 pages in between working on my lemon bars (first time with lemon bars and I don't think they turned out right though I wouldn't know because I always pick whatever is chocolate). Anyway, the girl gets her nickname from her dad's favorite song (which happens to be the Bing Crosby song you are listening to right now). I liked the sentiment of the song and it follows pretty well what is going on in the lives of the characters so far... a lot of unhappy people for whom dreams have died. I imagine things will turn out really well for them because that's the point right? April showers bring May flowers! Such has been my life recently and can I just say, the little May buds are sure looking promising!

P.S. Just got back from the party I took the lemon bars to...turns out they were a hit. I got a lot of compliments. I didn't have one of course...gotta love chocolate!

Blind Dates and Bleu Cheese

Tomorrow I am going on my fourth blind date this summer! Wow! For one thing, "blind" is the worst description of the kind of date you go on with someone you've never met before. Eyes are wide open on blind dates! It's like a date in Provo on steroids. Many dates in this town seem to have the hovering questions of, "Would he make a good father?" or, "What kind of wedding ring could he afford?" but blind dates are ridiculous. With regular dates, two people have spent some time together, have enjoyed talking, and know they would like to spend at least another two hours together. The pressure is off...some things are already established. On a blind date though, all judgements must be made. This person is not in your regular group of people so any decision to see them again would be an effort. So, if other dates have any kind of undue pressure, blind dates surpass them all. So, what will my date reduce me to in the course of our dinner and a movie (which my roommate and I discussed as not bad if there is no interest because hey, free meal and no talking during the movie but an okay start if he is cool but please move on out of the cliche). Well, he will note that I am tall...and that I am not quiet! I had this discussion with a friend and he told me that he would describe me as flamboyant. Now, while not being a bad thing, flamboyant is not exactly synonymous with feminine, which I so want to be. This same former "friend" of mine said that at first he did not think I was his type because of that loudness but that after a while he realized he really liked me. How does that help me in a blind date situation? I have described myself as an acquired taste...like bleu cheese or Picasso (which I still am not into) I am not at first easily palatable but after a while, to the refined palate, I am a delicacy (something like that). I hate the idea that there is something that takes getting used to about me but I'm learning to roll with it. So, in case this blind date is someone I could be interested in, here's hoping he liked blue cheese the first time he tried it!

Gravity!

Dictionary.com
Gravity- the force of attraction by which terrestial bodies tend to fall toward the center of earth; heaviness or weight.
Inertia- the property of matter by which it retains its state of rest or its velocity along a straight line so long as it is not acted upon by an external force.
If I was awake during this part of my physics class, I believe that one of the reasons inertia is not as perfect as it would be in outer space is because gravity is present on earth (and friction) and the like. I have noticed these scientific principles present in the lives of myself and people around me recently (and not in the keeping us from floating away kind of way). Of course the gravity (the other gravity) of some of their/our situations would explain this heaviness but I refuse to believe that life has to be as cumbersome or monotonous as I am seeing it made.
I see people, often single people, getting into a rut, a rut that rivals that of an army man in routine and a corpse in excitement. Work, home, TV...work, groceries, home, TV...break it up...work, car wash, home, MOVIE...Wow, that sounds like fun. Unless acted upon by an outside source, preferable a tall, dark, and handsome outside source, I fear that these objects will remain at rest (because this lifestyle could not possibly be considered in motion). Though I want that outside force I don't think that HE should be counted on to change anything or waited on to begin change in life.
Another thing that worries me is when I see people content with their lives...that sounds wrong. Contentment is a good thing but when I see people settling, then I get worried. As my good friend, and therapist, HRH pointed out, it is better that these people be happy with their situations than unhappy. I guess it's not the situation or weather or not they should be happy...it's hearing them admit they are not but being unwilling or too lazy to take action toward being really happy. Does this make any sense. The same life can be lived with the same circumstances but with different attitudes and drives it can be totally different...I might edit this later...