Happy Birthday, Baby Greetings, and a Must-see movie for all!

First things first: Jo, happy happy Birthday! And to you too, Sarah, whose birthday I have long since given up on trying to remember. Happy 31st!

And to Sarah especially, thank you for being so understanding about this weekend. We did end up seeing my uncle on Sunday morning for a bit, and he seemed to be recovering well. There was on moment when he got up off the couch, yelped, and stumbled. I thought, holy crap, his guts are going to come out! But really it was just his leg that fell asleep! Haa! (For those of you not in the know...my uncle had to have an emergency gallbladder-ectomy this weekend and because of the changes in the schedule, Christa and I were unable to make it to Ft. Worth to see mom and meet little Chloe.)

So the movie is called, "For the Bible Tells me so." Essentially, the movie introduces several different gay people who were brought up in Christian households and how they recognized and eventually dealt with the apparent disconnect between their Christian beliefs and their own sexual identity. I basically watched the movie through my tears. The stories shared in this movie are so powerful and they are, in different ways, my story. They put a voice to my experience in a way that I haven't myself done yet and my heart just resonated with the experiences each of these people have lived through. Please, please, please look for this movie and watch it. And if you can't find it, let me know and I will send it to you. I think it's that important.

One particular story that I resonated with especially was told by a young woman named Chrissy. She grew up catholic and was unsuccessful in the dating arena for most of high school and college. She figured she just hadn't found the right guy yet. Later in college, she began dating a guy who really was her best friend. After 5-6 years, they got married and she was happy to be marrying her best friend. After several years of marriage, Chrissy met a woman who she clicked with immediately. They spent tons of time together and quickly became very close. Chrissy described herself as always wanting to be with her, spend more time with her, etc. After a while, Chrissy's friend, a little awkwardly, told her that she was a lesbian and that she felt badly because they had gotten so close and she had not really found a good way to tell Chrissy about her sexual identity. She wasn't flirting with Chrissy or trying to split up her marriage, but in that conversation, Chrissy says that a light went off and she realized that she hadn't been waiting for the right guy all those years...she was waiting for the right girl. And when she met her, her whole world righted itself and she was whole, she was herself with this woman.

Why didn't she figure this out before? According to Chrissy (and this is exactly how I feel), things that are not options are simply not entertained. As a young catholic, Chrissy learned that to be gay and to commit suicide were both "abominations" to God and that you would get a one-way ticket straight to hell for either one. So no gay and no suicide. It wasn't even in her realm of possibility. Not until much later in life.

This is, in so many ways, my story. There are more things in the movie that are so important for straight people to hear, to see, especially people who come from Christian backgrounds like all of ours. And I want to talk about them with you all, but instead of me trying to lay it all out there, see the movie!

The last thing I'll say about the film at this point is this: the movie does a great job at showing the audience how alienating the process of coming out can be for gay Christians. This alienation, utter aloneness, feelings of rejection and abandonment, all of it I have experienced, and still continue to feel. Can you imagine the uproar if Christa and I went to a Wheaton reunion? Held hands while walking across the quad? There is not doubt in my mind that I would be asked to leave. And that is alienation. So it's in an attempt to recover a more satisfying relationship with Wheaton and my dear friends from there that I'm encouraging this movie so much.

So let me know what you find and what you think.

The Academy got it right on this one....

Congratulations to Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Best Song Oscar winners tonight for "Falling Slowly" from Once. Great song, great movie, great acceptance speech(es).

Also, I completely forgot to note this last week but we hit our 2 year anniversary of this blog on Valentine's Day! 2 years! Congratulations, girls. Here's to many more!

Outbreak

Well, I haven't posted in a while. I figured that being home sick today gives me a good opportunity. Here's a list of the other people I know that also took sick days today: my mom, my dad (and he hardly ever takes sick days except for things like heart attacks), my brother, the youth minister at our church, our music minister and his wife, and my sister-in-law Jenni's mom and dad. Oh, and Jenni is also not feeling well but she decided to go into work today. I am not even joking - we are all home with similar flu-like symptoms. Chills, body aches, high fever, dry cough. It's really fun, let me tell you. So, I guess it's that time of year. I recommend loads of vitamin C and antibacterial wipes/gel.

In other news....

I'm looking forward to this: U23D.

I am a fan of this new product (although my favorite Reese's product is the original peanut butter cup in the miniature size):

I recommend my friend Rachel's blog for great shopping deals. For instance, she posted a link to a website that will give you frequently updated codes for free Redbox rentals: http://theotherhuse.blogspot.com/.

I'm reading this book and think you should too:

Do Not Be Alarmed

Now I do not want any of my old friends to be alarmed, but I believe I have made a new friend. We've only met twice, but I think all signs are there. The reason you should not be alarmed is because I was a Brownie for a whole year, just long enough to sell 5 boxes of girl scout cookies, make 2 pieces of macaroni art, and to learn how to sing "make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold." So don't worry, no one's spot will be harmed in the Kelly hierarchy of friendship.

But this is how I knew we would be friends:

1) In our first conversation she referrenced Pride and Prejudice. So happens it is both of our favorite books. She even offered to play the P and P board game Jo bought me many many years ago. This is a first because everyone else I mention this to looks at me as if I just asked them if they wanted to play search for "the-used-hypodermic-needle-in-the-dumpster-game" (that will sweep the nation, mark my words).

2) She was wearing a Time Turner necklace.

3) We have had a lengthy talk discussing the merits of our flat irons.

4) Today she said "Matchy, matchy, green squared." Don't feel bad if you don't recognize this quote, but it's from a movie I have seen tons of times and this is one of my very favorite lines.

I mean if this is not the foundation of a good friendship, I don't know what is!!

California Dreamin'

I'm having a great time in LA. Here are some quick highlights.

1) Saw Chris Pierce in concert. He has a great soul voice. You can hear some of his stuff on myspace. His song She's Trying to Kill Me is hilarious.

2) Saw the movie Once. It is a very simple, sweet movie. The music is AMAZING. You can even get a free download of my favorite song from the movie at this site. Warning: you might drive your household crazy with repeated listenings because it is totally addictive. This is the insane part (yes, this is a "country girl going to the big city" story) the movie ticket cost $14 and had ASSIGNED SEATS. Insane.

3)Ate pinkberry yogurt. Never had anything like it. Again, totally addictive. Their tag lines are "swirly goodness" and "chilly bliss." It even has its own theme song called (rather obviously I think) "The Pinkberry Song" by Lady Tigra.

4) Went to Grauman's Theater for the first time. Saw Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Matt Damon's hand and footprints. So cool. Lots of characters around. I saw a Mad Eye Moody, several pirates, a seriel killer of some sort, a man with wings and 6 inch patent red platforms and a leather thong. I insulted Tom Cruise's handprint because it looked like he misspelled his own name and was chastised by a bystander because "he's actually a very intelligent man who has overcome many things, including dyslexia." Oops.

5) Tonight on tap is the Spazmatics. They are an 80's cover band and they dress up like the Revenge of the Nerds. I have even purchased an outfit for the evening. It includes gigantic pink hoop earrings.

A Busy Weekend

I don't know about you all, but I have some important things going on this weekend:

1) Though not technically the weekend, tonight I am going to the wedding of two of my former students. The bride was in my first eighth grade class. And yes, if you're doing the math, she's 19. This makes me feel VERY OLD! (Maybe I should wear my Dazzle headband for extra self-esteem).

2) I am planning a semi-major renovation of my bathroom and bedroom. I am up to my eyeballs in paint chips. So I have lots of decisions to make soon.

3) Go see a very important, culturally significant movie.

4)Last, but certainly not least, wish my good friend Jo a wonderful trip to Hawaii for her wedding!

FYI the beach ceremony will be Friday, approx 9PM if you live in the Midwest.

31 Days

We don't get the local paper at our house, we just don't make the time to read it, so what's the point? But every year there are two editions that I make a special effort to get ahold of. One is the fall tv preview, the other is the summer movie preview. I received my copy of the latter last week. After a quick perusal, it looks like this summer's gonna be a good one. If you like big-budget sequels, that is, and, in fact, I really do.

That edition of the paper confirmed what I already knew: The (entertainment) highlight of my year is just 31 days away. Don't get me wrong, I will see and enjoy Spiderman and Pirates of the Caribbean, but nothing will eclipse the joyous pitter patter in my heart when I go to my local cineplex to see this. Mmmmmmm. . .

Happy viewing, ladies.

Coming in 2007 (or You Want Links? You Got 'Em)

Books

Forever In Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood
By Ann Brashares
January 9, 2007

The Voice of Matthew
By Lauren Winner
February 6, 2007

Shopaholic & Baby
By Sophie Kinsella
February 27, 2007

Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Disciplines (paperback)
By Lauren Winner
February 28, 2007

Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith
By Anne Lamott
March 20, 2007

Sisterchicks Go Brit!
By Robin Jones Gunn
March 20, 2007

Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
By Jane O’Connor
March 27, 2007

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling
By Neta Jackson
April 1, 2007

Bend-The-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide To A Whole New Way To Sew
By Amy Karol
June 19, 2007

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
By J.K. Rowling
Anticipated July 7, 2007

Olivia Helps With Christmas
By Ian Falconer
October 2, 2007

Chicks With Sticks: Knitwise
By Elizabeth Lenhard
October 6, 2007

Home To Holly Springs (the first in the Father Tim series)
By Jan Karon
Fall 2007

The Solomon Key (working title)
By Dan Brown
Late 2007???

Music

Not Too Late
Norah Jones
January 30, 2007

Movies

Miss Potter
December 29, 2006

Reign Over Me
March 9, 2007

Spider-Man 3
May 4, 2007

Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World’s End
May 25, 2007

Ocean’s Thirteen
June 8, 2007

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
July 13, 2007

The Simpsons Movie
July 27, 2007

Becoming Jane
August 10, 2007

Happy New Year!

This & That

Things are Apartment Five B might be a little quiet for a while. Kristy, Megan, and Katie post about as often as they go to the dentist. Kelly is busy molding young minds and having her own mind molded. Sarah is in countdown mode. And I simply don't have much that is very interesting to say. I offer this modest post so that we can at least average one per week.

Facebook

You all know that I've become a bit of a MySpace nerd. I know it is a little silly, yet it is still fun to update my profile and check out my groups and post stupid comments on other people's spaces. Recently, I got an email stating that Facebook is now open to anyone and everyone. I never knew it was closed to some people but now that it is apparently available to me for the first time, I had to give it a shot. I do not like it - it is awkward and restrictive - but ladies, I have reconnected with two of our favorite people from Wheaton - Clayton and Efrain. Anyway, in case you guys stop by to check out the blog, hello! Welcome! Glad to know you again. Clayton, tell Shireen to hop on here and say hello to us. Maybe we'll even let her post something.

Movies

This weekend is the opening of a new movie about Queen Esther called One Night With The King. It is a very limited release so check the website for a theater near you. There is also a film coming out in December called The Nativity Story. Looks sort of like the Christmas version of The Passion of Christ. Keisha Castle-Hughes (Paikea in Whale Rider and Queen of Naboo in Star Wars III) plays Mary and Shohreh Aghdashloo (The Lake House and House of Sand and Fog) plays Elizabeth. Interestingly, Keisha Castle-Hughes, who is just 16 years old, just announced she is pregnant. Also on my To See list: Marie Antoinette and The Queen and Jesus Camp.

Countdown to Chicago

One week! I cannot wait. I haven't been there since February and I have missed it so much. Jon, Matt, and Carlos have worked hard preparing for the marathon. We expect to have about 15 people cheering on Team I-W. Jon and Matt had fast enough half-marathon times that they qualified for a preferred starting area, behind the elite runners but ahead of the bulk of the 40,000 crazy people that think running 26.2 miles on a Sunday morning in Chicago in October is a fun thing to do.

St. Louis Sports

Blues home opener is tonight. Go Blues! And the Cardinals play game 1 of the National League Championship Series tonight in New York against the Mets. Go Cards! (As of 9:11 p.m. Central Time, both teams are losing.)