Kirsten's musings...

The curious case of...me

Brad Pitt has a new movie out called "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" about a man who appears on Earth as a senior citizen and proceeds to age backwards, becoming younger as the movie progresses.  It occurred to me that I've done something similar.

When I was a teenager I always seemed to be older than my years.  Most of my friends were older, and I was more mature than my classmates.  I always thought that was pretty cool.  Now that I'm an adult, I'm often told that I neither look nor act my age, which I take as a huge compliment.

Makes me wonder what's going to happen when I get to be a senior citizen.  Will I continue to be perceived as younger?  Or will fate change course again?  Only time will tell.

Friday pix

Be careful when wishing for a white Christmas...

Merry Christmas everybody!

Friday pix

Come rain, sleet, snow or hail, all Toby wants to do is fetch a tennis ball.

My view on the "War on Christmas"

This time of year you often hear about the supposed "War on Christmas" which always sounds stupid to me.  I've come up with my own theory about it.  It's the Christians' fault.  Not all Christians, just the ultra-conservative right-wing Christians.  I'll refer to them as UC Christians.

Yes, this country is predominantly Christian, and yes Christmas is a Christian holiday BUT it isn't the only religion or winter holiday.  If UC Christians weren't so fanatical about Christmas, believing that it's the only holiday to celebrate in late December, then those who practice other religions (or no religion) wouldn't feel so compelled to demand equal time.

There's a prime example of this happening in our state capitol.  Someone put up a plaque espousing atheist beliefs to counterbalance a Christmas tree on display.  The UC Christians had a fit, and someone ended up stealing the plaque.  (It was later recovered).  That just angered those who practice other religions, so now we have to display symbols of all holidays, including a Festivus pole.

If the UC Christians had just ignored the plaque, or even better yet led by example and taught their children that it's okay to love others who believe differently than you do, it would have ended quietly.  Even the UC-est of Christians should have felt pity for those who hadn't found God, and prayed for their souls.

Do I think it's stupid that schoolchildren have to have "Holiday" parties instead of "Christmas" parties so as not to offend?  Yes.  Do I think it's a "War on Christmas?"  No, just political correctness gone overboard.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Festivus, Happy Winter Solstice, and general merriment to any religion I left out.

Friday pix

Jim and I noticed this "magic" leaf one morning before heading off to a 5K fun run. 

 

Those crafty spiders!

Couple of random observations

I purchased a pair of corduroy pants over the weekend, just to have something different in my wardrobe.  I haven't worn cords in years, but I like the look.  They're just as comfortable as jeans, but they look dressier.  Anyway, they have an unexpected side effect.  My office chair has a fabric seat cushion, so the corduroy fabric "grips" it, preventing me from sliding down if I slouch.  Cool!  (Like I've said before, I get amused easily)

Second observation was during my lunchtime cribbage game with Tall Ship Taylor.  I had first count and if I had enough points I could skunk him.  In looking at my hand I decided to break up a 15 AND a pair to retain a flush.  I was rewarded with a cut that gave me enough extra points to cross the finish line, completing the skunk.  Woohoo!

Welcome on board, coach

The University recently introduced its 23rd football coach, Steve Sarkisian.  He's a former quarterback for BYU, and former assistant coach at USC under Pete Carroll.  Pretty much everybody I've talked to is very excited about the hiring, except maybe a couple of WSU grads.  :)  There's nowhere for the program to go but up, and I can't wait.

A thought occurred to me toward the end of the season, speaking of BYU.  How would the season progressed if the refs hadn't called that unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Jake Locker at the very end of the BYU game?  We probably make the extra point, and send the game into overtime.  It's possible that we would have still lost the game, but it would have been a much less demoralizing loss.  I'm convince that's when the season was lost - not that the players tried to lose, but they very likely felt like they couldn't win, so no one was surprised or too upset when they did lose.

The overall theme of Sark's acceptance of this job was that the Huskies need to get back a "belief in winning."  I really hope he can make that happen.

Friday pix

So I'm going to try this and see how long it lasts.  Each Friday I'm going to post a picture from...somewhere.  One I've taken, or one I found somewhere.  Give me a chance to show off some of my stuff, and other things that amuse me or that I connect with for some reason.

So, without further ado, here's the first pic.  It's part of the LOLCat meme, but seemed appropriate given this weekend's Navy-Army football game. 

 

GO NAVY!  BEAT ARMY!

Going artificial this year

Even though I think I'm the only living person who doesn't really like the smell of a freshly-cut Christmas tree I've been dragging my feet about getting an artificial tree.  There's something about going to a tree farm and finding a great tree and helping Jim cut it down to take home and decorate.

That being said we get so busy this time of year that dealing with a live tree was getting to be more of a hassle than it was worth.  So after looking around at various options we settled on a pre-lit tree from Home Depot.  It's amazing how real they look these days.  Plus no needles to worry about!