Monday, November 12, 2007

A Random Sampling

I've only been at work for 2 hours, and I'm having one of those days... we've all had them.

So, here’s some stuff that I've been thinking about lately.

It's all over the place, I know.

Welcome to my mind.

(I apologize in advance…)


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When I saw this picture, I was once again impressed by the power of the human spirit. So, the next time you complain that your job is hard, just remember this:




Turkish women struggle with heavy burdens as they walk to their homes in Sirnak province near the border with Iraq.

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Dear People at Yoplait,

What is going on with the seed quantity in your Light Red Raspberry yogurt?

It has gotten out of control! I took two bites and almost got lock-jaw from the unexpected crunchiness.

You should call it “Red Raspberry Seeds in a Yogurt Glaze” instead of just yogurt, because “yogurt” implies that there is more of a creamy consistency than a crunchy one.

I know they make seedless Raspberry jam. Maybe you could look into that.

Oh, and thanks for the chipped bicuspid.

Begrudgingly yours,
Liz

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I believe that everyone who can read should be memorizing their favorite poems. I try to memorize a new one every two to three weeks (depending on my time and its difficulty).

So, if you don't already do that, give it a try! It's a lot of fun. I just write the poem on a 3by5 card(s) and carry it around with me. Whenever I have a spare minute, I read through the lines.

It's quite simple actually, and a good use of time. (And a great way to impress people at cocktail parties. Although, I don't know if I've actually ever gone to an official cocktail party, but I assume that a recited poem would awe the cocktail party scene.)

This is the poem I'm currently memorizing:

being to timelessness as it’s to time,
love did no more begin than love will end;
where nothing is to breathe to stroll to swim
love is the air the ocean and the land

(do lovers suffer? all divinities
proudly descending put on deathful flesh:
are lovers glad? only their smallest joy’s
a universe emerging from a wish)

love is the voice under all silences,
the hope which has no opposite in fear;
the strength so strong mere force is feebleness:
the truth more first than sun more last than star

–do lovers love? why then to heaven with hell.
Whatever sages say and fools, all’s well.

(E. E. Cummings)

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Oh, and have you guys heard about this? Some people think it’s big news. Others don’t. Any thoughts?



Well, that's it. Hope you're having a better day than I am!

7 comments:

Gina said...

Liz, The whole BofM thing was all over the news last week. Of course...Utah. You would think that someone landed on the moon again for the amount of attention it got. Frankly, I'm surprised it didn't come up in church on Sunday. :)

Laura said...

I like your Yoplait letter, although I don't usually like the kind with seeds. I need to write a letter to Ziploc about an issue I'm having with their bags. Because I want to be like Rachel when I grow up, I might actually write the letter. I'll blog about it if I do.

I read the Salt Lake Tribune article. I agree with the guy they quote at the very end that obviously the intro is not part of the actualy scripture, therefore a change is not like the church is denouncing some sort of doctrinal belief. I also agree that the likeliness of there having been other ethnic origins in the area at the time of the Lamanites and Nephites is pretty strong. My other favorite thing is that articles like this always quote "former Mormon" so-and-so. Does anyone think that a "former" member might not be the most unbiased opinion? And it's not like the Salt Lake Tribune has a reputation for unbiased reporting about the church!

Unknown said...

does anyone think that a "current" member might not be the most unbiased opinion?

just a thought. :)

i liked your letter, liz. very succinct.

Wendy said...

I hadn't heard a thing about the BoM controversy (Texas, you know. They just think we're not real Christians and leave it at that). I'm glad they made the change. Frankly it bothers me sometimes that Bruce R. MCconkie has somehow had the last word on all things Mormon for 30 years. I can picture this story on the news in Utah though. Live it up Gina! Embrace your new culture (and say hi to Dick Nourse for me).

Hannah said...

I took a class about contemporary issues facing American Indians my last year of college. My teacher talked a lot about where American Indians migrated from. It is her belief that the traditional bering strait theory does not sufficiently account for all groups of people living in the ancient Americas. She told us that the trend among academics in this particular field is that there must have been multiple migrations from various parts of the globe, including Africa and especially through the pacific islands (at least that's what she said...no I did not mean to sound like Michael Scott). Interestingly she then went on to comment some on of the more ridiculous theories behind where the Indians came from, including they were aliens, they were survivors of Atlantis, and that crazy Mormon belief that they were descendent's of a Jewish migration. It was an uncomfortable moment for me, to think that this woman who I really respected lumped my beliefs in with the alien folk. I wish I could say that I said something then, but I didn't. I don't really have anything super enlightening to say on this whole subject, it just made me think of that moment. I think its a positive change. My testimony remains intact.

Liz the Poet said...

Gina, I, too am surprised that it didn’t come up at church (especially in your ward). But, I was also surprised in my own ward.

Laura, channel Rachel and write the letter. It’s very cathartic.

(chandelle), Thanks for stopping by! I agree with you. Both sides are biased.

Ah, unbiased reporting, how long has it been since we’ve seen you!

Wendy, Amen on BRM having the last word on things. Seriously, we believe in continual revelation. (Not that I don’t respect much of what he did, because I do.)

Hannah, I’m glad to hear you’re still keeping the faith! And I, too, know what it’s like to be lumped in with alien believers during a class (my experience was a professor who said that perhaps “Joe Smith” was abducted by aliens and how that would explain a lot, and he also through in Kolob for good measure).

Amanda said...

I hope the rest of you don't decide to drop me as a friend especially you Liz when I say that I've never been a poetry person. I think I was too tortured in school when I had to write an essay about what a poem meant and somehow I was always way off. I'm hoping I'm at your cocktail party and you can be impressive with your poetry and that I can stand near you and say 'she's my friend.'