John "Roll-the-Dice" McCain

. . . ring, ring . . .
Me: "Hello?"
Mom: "McCain picked some woman from Alaska."
Me: "For what?"
Mom: "Vice President."
. . . long pause . . .
Mom: "Is he gonna win, buddy?"

Mom and all else who are asking that question, here's my answer: he has a better chance now than ever.

John McCain -- who really doesn't come off as being an impetuous fellow -- has never been afraid to take a chance. Obviously, he still isn't. Yahoo's front page has called this a "risky" choice. Newsflash! Any VP pick is risky. Remember Dan Quayle and his total inability to complete a reasonable sentence? Al Gore and his innate ability to tell only the most preposterous fiblets? The primary task of a veep candidate is to make a possible future president look good (especially at this stage in the game). And this lady is going to make McCain shine.

I won't tell you what a remarkable rise she has experienced in Republican politics or even what a stellar human she is. Google away. But, I will tell you that she's adding something to this ticket that Sen. McCain needs - Conservative credibility. Not an easy task for a female.

Has she secured the ever elusive female vote for the parenthetical R's this year? Um, no. Feminists will rip her apart for her staunch pro-life stance. This lady WILL go after Biden on that and has opened up the door for McCain to go after Obama on it, specifically on the Born Alive bill.

I have a few concerns about her. (I would not call them reservations at this point.) But I'm sure both campaigns will address them soon enough. For now, I'm just thrilled to know that there are other truly Conservative females in this country and that one just might be Second in Command.

Pet Peeve: Vol. 1

When I explain something (in detail) to someone, and the person to whom I've offered the explanation then asks me questions . . . to which answers had already been directly addressed in said explanation, thus making me repeat myself.

Cut it out.

R.I.P., Spyder

I'm sad today . . .
Spyder -- the super special Northwest Georgia fawn -- succumbed to complications from the removal of his superfluous limbs. Lots of folks were pulling for this little guy, and I'm certain that the kind folks who were attempting to help him are devastated.
Peace to them and to him.

August and Everything After

Today marks six months until my and David's wedding date.

I'm proud of us. Our connection has proven its ability to withstand a number of issues. We Love each other. And for the first time in both of our lives, we find that moral absolute guiding us, impacting our decisions, and creating within our individual selves a desire to share an eternal embrace with each other.

I believe in our future together. I believe we are better off with each other than without. Do you know how you can tell that you've found "The One"? When you reach the realization that you are not willing to forgo that person. Then ta da! Your little solitary world is thrown completely out of whack. The hard part (and subsequent internal conflict) is forgoing all that is in place in your singular existence that would be damaging to your relationship with that person. Sooner or later, your Love (and desire and need) for your One trumps your attachment to your singular existence. You now have the promise and hope of something greater, something more substantial.

Lessons have been learned and internalized about each other and ourselves. And, we're still together. :) I have added the word "compromise" to my lexicon, and he has added "commitment" to his. Now, I'm working on the concept of allowing myself to be "taken care of." He's learning about the completely foreign concept of a budget. What's important is that we're learning and growing together. What else is important is this:

I cannot forgo that curly-headed, dreamy-eyed guy with the intriguing mind and charming wit. I cannot forgo the way he makes me laugh or the way he looks at me when I've said something other people would find ridiculous. I cannot forgo the excitement I feel (even now) when it's his voice on the other end of the phone. I cannot forgo the sense of falling in Love with him over and over again as I see his efforts to make me happy. I cannot forgo the picture I have in my mind of our children, our life together, our future.

David is my One. I am very blessed.

Song of the Day: "Hero" - Steve Taylor

I read the interview that Robert Downey, Jr., gave to moviehole.net where he slams "The Dark Knight." It's neither here nor there, but I enjoy Robert Downey, Jr., so I read it. I haven't seen "The Dark Knight," so I don't understand his contention, but apparently D.C. Comics and Marvel Comics are rivals of sorts.
In any event, it got me thinking about what a hero is, who my heroes are, and this song by Steve Taylor:

Hero

When the house fell asleep, there was always a light
And it fell from the page to the eyes of an American boy
In a storybook land, I could dream what I read
When it went to my head I'd see
I wanna be a hero

Hero
It's a nice-boy notion that the real world's gonna destroy
You know it's a Marvel comicbook, Saturday matinee fairytale, boy

Growing older you'll find that illusions are brought
And the idol you thought you'd be was just another zero
I wanna be a hero

Heroes died when the squealers bought 'em off
Died when the dealers got 'em off
Welcome to the "in it for the money as an idol" show
When they ain't as big as life
When they ditch their second wife
Where's the boy to go?

Gotta be a hero
It's a nice-boy notion that the real world's gonna destroy
You know it's a Marvel comicbook, Saturday matinee fairytale, boy

When the house fell asleep, from a book I was led
To a light that I never knew
"I wanna be your hero"
And He spoke to my heart from the moment I prayed,
"Here's a pattern I made for you . . . I wanna be your hero."

2008 Democrats & Young Evangelicals: A Love Story

Holy hooplah, evangelicals! Don Miller gave the closing benediction tonight at the opening of the Democrats' convention.

The strange controversy over the benediction began Friday with Cameron Strang of Relevant Magazine (whose father is Steven Strang, founder of Charisma Magazine) backing out of his initial acceptance of the Dems' invitation to pray. He had his reasons, mostly being that he did not feel comfortable being painted with a politically-biased brush. Donald Miller, however, doesn't seem to mind, and the pals touched base about the ol' switcharoo, and Miller agreed and put his bells on.

Now . . . I LOVE Donald Miller. He is such a gifted writer. He is bright and witty and humble and inspiring. He is real, completely without pretense. My introduction to him came from his book, Blue Like Jazz. It had been given to my brother by our friend Nate, and Justin gave it to me with a certain urgency for me to read it. Nate knew it would change Justin's life; Justin knew it would change mine.

And, it did. Those words ministered to me in such a way that perhaps only the words of Lewis had before. I read it, closed it, opened it, and re-read it immediately. It affirmed me. It reminded me that it's okay to have questions - and I am famous for my interrogation skills - and to be human. God created us. He knows who we are.

But, Don Miller will be greeted now with the same hostility that perhaps prompted Strang to decline. Certain folks out there know in their "knowers" that to be a Democrat is inconsistent with the Christian walk. "The" Christian walk. There is no "the" in this case, Loves. It is his, or it is hers. A person's faith is a deeply personal experience, or at least it should be.

Don Miller's presence at the DNC does not bother me. He is entitled to his political beliefs, as I am mine. His politics do not make him any less theologically sound. Now, if he began to use his ministry and calling as a political platform, he would lose this reader. But that's not going to happen. He knows what his calling is.

That interview raised some questions for me. I dig black and white. It works for me. But, just because I have no room for gray in my life does not mean that I don't have room for people who have gray in theirs.

Ultimately, I am pleased with the prayer that Miller gave tonight. I join him in his gratitude for what we have and his requests for what we need, though I would pray to restore our morality period, not just our moral standing in the world. I remain a devoted reader.

Return to blogging

I abandoned the old blogspot and started this one because 1.) "out with the old, in with the new" is the current mantra, and 2.) I could not remember the password to the old one.
I hope this will get me back into the habit of writing daily. Dave and I are banking our financial future on my book sales, so I best get crackin'. :)
So, there's the intro to my return. And just in time for the heated political season . . . heh, heh.
Back soon.