WWJD?

Was nosing around Huffington Post today and came across this article linked on the front page... the author eloquently states many of my same feelings regarding this 'issue' - I simply cannot understand how someone who claims to be a Christian can hurt, ostracize and bully all in Jesus' name.  Jesus loved everyone, why is is so difficult for those of us who follow his word to do the same?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/derek-flood/jesus-homosexuality_b_1442195.html

+/= of the week

As today was one of those "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days" I figure it is the right time to take a look at what is going well in life..

+      I am looking forward to babysitting my adorable niece Meredith on Saturday evening while my sister and bro-in-law go to a Timbers game.  I'm hoping for sunshine, for them to enjoy at the game and for Miss Meredith and I to enjoy before dinner!  I am also super excited to see my bestie Kristal on Sunday when she is in town for the weekend.  It's been way too long again (since January!) and I'm looking forward to catching up with her.  Oh, and in my first week back on plan (Medifast) I lose 7.5lbs.  Yay!

-      My knee has been hurting today and I hate limping around. And this isn't even the knee with the repaired torn meniscus and still torn ACL.  UGH.  I'm looking forward to continuing to loose more weight and easing up on some of the pressure I put on my poor knees on a daily basis.  I also have a CRAPLOAD of homework to do over the next two weeks.  Aack!

High Fidelity - Gotye

This song has become ridiculously popular super fast - when I went on iTunes last night to download it I expected to have to search for it but it was number one(!) on the list.  Craziness.  At least I'm not the only one who has fallen in love with this unique song :)  Popular or not, I love it (the video is odd but that seems to be pretty common for alternative singers/groups. Lol)

Gotye

High Fidelity - The Raconteurs

I was listening to some music on YouTube and stumbled across this live version of "Level" by The Raconteurs.  While I've been a fan of the band for some time, I LOVE this version of this song.  It's raw, garage band sound and awesome guitar and drumming bring a whole new level (ha!) to the song. Plus I just love Jack White.  :)  Hope you enjoy!

+/= of the week

+      I am looking forward to Easter lunch tomorrow with my sister, bro-in-law, beautiful niece and parents. My niece will undoubtedly be super excited about the Easter bunny making an appearance the next day and I'm excited to continue my spoiling of said kid with an early bonus Easter basket.  :)  Oh, and of course celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday!  He is Risen!

-      I guess I really can't think of a minus... apparently I'm in a good mood right now.  Lol  I suppose the only thing I approach with trepidation in this next week is that I am planning on restarting Medifast again.  While I am hopeful and excited for the success I know I will have it (based upon a previous 68 pound loss, of which I have gained it all back - ew) is not an easy process on the body and psyche and I know there will be challenges and serious tests to my willpower in the coming months.

I am a lemming.

With other teen series turned movie phenomenons, a la Twilight and the Harry Potter series, I was always one of those slightly self-righteous people who cautiously looking forward to the movie, convinced it would never be as good as the book and who was proud to state that I "read the books before I saw the movie."

Well, I cannot say this any longer.  Monday evening I went to see "The Hunger Games" with a new friend.  I have not read the book yet.  There was a large part of me that felt a bit like a lemming... running with the pack just because it was the "cool" thing.  I knew that if I read the book I would love it, it wasn't a question of that, it was simply the fact that I hadn't had the chance to do so yet and I felt like I was breaking some cardinal rule by seeing the film before reading the actual book.

Boy, am I glad I took the leap and saw the movie when I had the chance.  Great interpretation of a book on film - from what others say it stays quite true to the book and if you haven't had the chance to read it yet you will still be able to understand and appreciate the movie for what it is.

Naturally I immediately NEEDED to read the book so, thanks to my fabulous friend Deedra, I am now (finally!) reading the first book.  I can already tell it is a series I will need to own, both on paper and on film.  Highly recommend it  :)

May the gods be ever in your favor...

Manzanita madness!

Okay, so not really madness but it was the adjective that popped in my head so I went with it.  It was actually a very low key weekend, exactly what I needed right about now.  :)  

Got down there on Thursday and stayed through til Sunday morning, it was long enough to make me glad to be home again today but short enough that it didn't totally break the bank (thanks to a super deal with Sunset Vacation Rentals as a returning customer).  

Mermaid House

I stayed at the same place my bestie and I stayed at last time we went in October of 2010, it is a small two bedroom cottage called the Mermaid House that was built in the late 40's and is just a couple of blocks from the main street and half a block from the beach.

Living Area

Living Room

If you look closely you can see how near the house is to the beach...

Mermaid in window above vintage kitchen sink

Vintage stove... what a trip to cook on, still works great!

Going with a theme here :)

Bathroom - tiny but has everything you need and a washer/dryer!

Bedroom 1 (I stayed here the first time I visited)

Bedroom 2 (master)

Hall from bedrooms back into main living space

I spent the days wandering around Cannon Beach and driving down to the Tillamook Cheese Factory, an institution in our fine state of Oregon (Squeeky cheese!).  Also enjoyed a DELISH sandwich one day from my favorite deli in the world, Bread and Ocean.

From www.tillamook.com

Can't take credit for the photo, stole it from Bread & Oceans' facebook page

For the most part the weather was pretty crappy (hey, what do you expect the first weekend of March at the Oregon Coast?!) but I was able to get a few good shots at Cannon Beach on Thursday as I was heading towards Manzanita.  

All in all it was a great trip, nice to get away... even nicer to come home again.  Now work tomorrow is another story....  ;)