7 quick takes

 1 - I'm a little embarrassed to tell you that I had never heard this song before it was on Glee.  I think it's fabulous, hope you do too!

2 - Despite my better judgement I have started watching The Walking Dead.  I actually started it a long time ago, had to stop during the first 15 minutes and then left it alone for a long time.  I'm not sure why but I decided to go back to it again.  I got through the first 3 episodes, didn't sleep very well, and so returned to the island (that's code for "I started watching Lost again.").  But tonight, while I did dishes, I watched another zombie-full episode.  Travis will be forced to come to bed at the same time as me tonight.

And you are stupid to watch zombie shows right before bed, Bonnie!

3 - Watching The Walking Dead wouldn't have been hard 15 years ago, or even 20 years ago when I thrilled in being scared.  I think two things have changed that for me #1 - I have become more aware of how real creepy, evil things are around us.  #2 - I have become a mother.  To combine #1 and #2 with an example:  When my kids have nightmares I am sure to mark their foreheads and beds with the sign of the cross, say the St. Michael prayer, and to speak aloud the Name of Jesus.

4 - I told a friend - her oldest is in his early 20's - about how the zombie show has me worried about a possible zombie apocalypse and how horrible it would be if my kids turned into zombies or if I turned into zombies or if we had to live in a boarded up house fighting off zombies all the time.  And my friend looked off into the distance and sincerely said, "I think I can honestly say that I have never had that fear before."

5 - Enough about zombies!  Let me tell you something that happened with our phone:
To begin I must tell you this simple fact - we are poor.  In an effort to cut expenses and not go on food stamps we decided to get rid of one of our cell phones.  We have a home phone for emergency purposes and Travis and I decided that we could share a cell phone and ask people to call us on the landline more often.  So to make a long story short, we're saving over $30 a month, but we both still have cell phones and a better plan than we had before!

6 - Today I'm speaking at the Catholic Press Association Midwest Regional Conference.  Woo-hoo!  They asked me to speak for about 15 minutes... I'm gonna try my best to keep it at that!

7 - Here's a few links I loved this past week:
Simcha Fisher's "Much Ado About Vocations"
Edmund Mitchell's "All Hipsters Eventually Become Catholic"
Sam Harris' "On the Freedom to Offend an Imaginary God"

7 Quick Takes

1 - 6th grade, people. In 6th grade I had this cassette tape. I actually still love this music because this middle class white girl can so totally relate to black empowerment rap.

2 - I have to admit that when the show Arrested Development first came out I heard someone say, "I love Arrested Development!" Thinking they were talking about the above rap group and having never seen the show I enthusiastically jumped in and cried, "Me too!!"

Eventually my much hipper younger brother sat me down and introduced me to the show. I loved it and you can count me as one of the many who are excited about the new season that will be streaming later this month on Netflix.

3 - As you may have noticed I wear glasses and my eyesight is really, really poor. This means I really don't have any kind of idea how dirty my shower is. When I'm in it the shower always looks fine because, you know, everything's blurry and misty. But every once in awhile I'll glance in there when my glasses are on and I'm amazed that Travis (who's eyesight is fine!) doesn't complain at how groddy things are. Soap scum and hard water are not a pretty sight. The kids' tub is fine, because when they get baths my glasses are obviously on and so I wipe things down, rinse things out, and scrub things as needed.

As for our shower... Some day I will not be tired and pregnant and have severe back pain. When that day comes I'll clean it and maybe do a good job of keeping it clean. Until then we'll just pretend that everything's fine because what you can't see can't hurt you.

4 - I got my haircut yesterday by a girl I used to babysit. She cut off the split ends, shaped it up, and gave me some great bangs. I like it down and pulled back. In short, I love it.

5 - Earlier this week I needed to put $10 worth of gas in my car. That would have worked just fine had I not started to think about how I would get gas for my car if the zombie apocalypse happened. How would Travis and I survive if there were zombies everywhere. Would my parents be zombies? We'd need my dad's bow and arrows and hunting rifles. We'd also need to live somewhere with a high fence so we could garden. And I'd need to get my mom's pressure cooker so I could can to survive the winter. And we'd definitely never be able to have sex again because there is no way I'm having Travis deliver a 10lb baby in our home in those conditions. And would the kids be okay. Oh my beautiful kids. Hopefully our extended families would survive and we could live and fight and thrive together.

And at $25 I realized I'd been thinking too much and not paying attention to the pump. Obviously I would not fare too well in the zombie apocalypse.

6 - When summer comes I always listen to more country music. I'm building a playlist on YouTube and I'm looking for some good recommendations. If you like country music please leave me a suggestion or two in the combox.

7 - Last week I got an email from a woman named Heather asking if I would help her spread her cancer story in order to raise awareness of mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Heather was a new mom to a three month old baby girl when she learned her diagnosis and that likely (and sadly) she had been exposed to the asbestos through her father who worked in construction during her childhood.  If you would like more information on mesothelioma or if you'd like to read Heather's story please please visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog.

Many thanks to Jen for hosting the weekly round-up. God bless you all!

Seven Quick Takes

1 - If I had money I would actually buy this album when it drops next week. I love me some The Head and the Heart.

2 - For those of you who watched and enjoyed The Lizzie Bennet Diaries you'll be happy to know the same team has done a series called Emma Approved. I'll be saving them up so I can plow through them all at once.

3 - Since it's October I was craving fallish things. The weather hasn't been cooperating so I had to take matters into my own hands and make something pumpkin-y. Pinterest came to my aid and I made Joyful Momma's Kitchen's pumpkin scones with a maple glaze. They were delicious! Make some right now.

4 - So.... The Walking Dead... I just buzzed my way through the whole of season 3 so that I can... I don't know, wait another year until season 4 is on Netflix. I know what you're thinking. "Hey Bonnie, do you really think you should be watching that show any more? Remember how you couldn't concentrate enough to even pump gas because you became so preoccupied by the zombie apocalypse? You could barely even sleep at night you were so scared and worried about what you would do and how you would save your children in a world full of walkers. What are you doing?"

And my answer:
Yes, it is true that I do keep a pair of knitting needles in my car so I can stab a zombie in the eye should the world ever come to that. However! The show The Walking Dead has become much more about the survivors than the zombies and I'm interested in those characters. Especially Herschel and Darryl - I love those two men. Plus, Woodbury and the prison are not locations similar to my life so it seems more like pretend. (What?! It is pretend you say?! Well I say I will be prepared because I am taking all kinds of mental notes, friends!) When Rick, Glenn, Carol and the rest were on the run, holed up in homes and the farm, driving through the country or city and passing all kinds of walkers, well, that was just a little too close to my imagined reality and it freaked me out a bit.

And then there's this:

5 - It's funny the things you celebrate when you're a parent. For example: JP had become a little backed up. A week and a half ago he had a poopy diaper and then nothing but a couple of sharts for the next week. He was super fussy and I was super confused because he's only getting breastmilk - what is there to constipate him? Anyways, the doctor said to give him 1-2 teaspoons of prune juice a day until he had a BM. Three teaspoons later and JP pooped! It was at dinner and we all cheered. The next morning he pooped again and I called my husband to tell him. The next day he pooped again and my mom and I applauded.

And now I think he has allergies like his brothers so boo to constricted diets but yay to pooping, happy babies!

6 - Speaking of pooping, happy babies.: A HUGE congrats to my friend Kathryn! She's pregnant with her 6th baby and I'm so happy for her. If you haven't yet, head on over and read all about her exciting news. And then, even though she hasn't said it, please say a prayer for her, her husband Scott, and their new baby. Their baby #5 was a NICU baby and I know that once you experience the NICU you are forever afraid of it.

Kathryn, I'm praying for peace in your and Scott's hearts and for a healthy baby. Also, I'm hoping for a girl.

7 - Yesterday the kids and I were driving to the grocery store in a neighboring town called Washington. L, who is learning Spanish at school, asked me how one says "Washington" in espanol. I explained that you would just say "Washington" because it doesn't translate. Ben then said, "Washington. HEY!!! I just spoke SPANISH!!" He was so proud and excited -it was awesome.


Many thanks to Jen for hosting! You're the best, Mrs. Fulwiler!

Happy Halloween!

Wishing you zombie-free trick-or-treating!

10 Shows to Love on Netflix

Snow day? Sick day? Introvert-post-social-function-recovery day? Wanting a show to watch, episode after episode? Or maybe you're just looking for a new show to enjoy a little at a time, not something to binge on in one day.

Whatever your reason, if you're looking for some good television viewing here my top ten picks, all of which are available for streaming from Netflix.

(Disclaimer: Some of the shows have mild language, some scantily clad women, some guns. I don't know what will offend you or be fine by you but I am definitely not encouraging you to sit down with the whole family and a bowl of popcorn before you preview them for your kids.)

Life

Detective Charlie Crews was framed for murder, spent several years in jail, and was then exonerated. After prison Charlie gets a whole lot of money and his job back, where he begins to investigate who framed him and why. The show is told a bit like a documentary, especially in the beginning as they are establishing Crews' back story. The things I love about this show: how quirky and funny it is. While in prison Charlie missed some advancements in technology (like phones have cameras), he really missed fresh fruit, and he picked up Zen thinking to help him cope. I'm not sure why this show was cancelled - it's so good! - but the writers saw it coming and were able to wrap the show up nicely by the end of the second season.

White Collar

Smart, witty, beautiful: this show is really different than a lot of television. White Collar follows Neal Caffrey, a con artist who does white collar crimes like art and bond forgery, as he works off the remainder of his prison sentence by serving as a consultant to Peter Burke, the head of the FBI's white collar division in New York City. Things I like about this show: the characters are all smart and are pursuing important pieces of art, history, and culture. (I know that sounds snooty but you'll like it too.) Peter and his wife have a really great marriage. Also, Tiffani Thiesen stars in it and that makes me happy to see "Kelly Kapowski" again. The best part about the show: MOZZIE! 

The Walking Dead

Zombie apocylpse, at it's best. The Walking Dead is based on the graphic novels by the same name. It follows police officer Rick Grimes and the band of survivors as they try to find a safe place to live and try to thrive in a world filled with the living dead. The show is gory, scary, and gruesome and, speaking as a parent, the premise is 100% horrifying. The first time I watched the show I literally watched through my fingers as I covered my eyes with my hands. The show is interesting and really well done. It's scary but it's worth the lack of sleep.

Friday Night Lights

"Clear eyes, full hearts can't lose." Okay, really I never know what Coach Taylor is talking about when he says that but I was never an athlete. Yet I still love this show. Despite the fact that it's about high schoolers and some of the characters are just annoying (Jason, Lyla, Julie). Reasons to love it: Coach and Tammi Taylor's relationship, Tammi Taylor, Landry, Seracen, Seracen's grandma, football. It's a sweet show about relationships, small town life, and how sports can build community.

Lost

A plane crashes on a mysterious island and the survivors try to figure out what the heck is going on. You try to figure out what is going on. And then it ends and you're still trying to figure it out. But just enjoy the ride. There's so many interesting, likeable characters and I found myself really invested in what happened to them. The other nice thing about Lost is that so many of its actors have gone on to star in other shows. I love flipping on the tv and bumping in to an old friend from the island.

Sherlock

A modern retelling of Sir Arthur Connan Doyle's classics, which I've never read so I have no idea if they "get it right" and quite frankly I don't care. Sherlock is brilliant. Each episode is movie length and those 90 minutes are filled with excellent writing, clever characters, fantastic dialogue, and British accents. What is not to love?! And please allow me to go on record and state that I love Molly Hooper.

Jericho

If you're looking for a more family friendly end of the world type show this is it. Jericho isn't a very slick show, it's simple and sweet, though, and a nice watch. It takes place in a small town that remained safe from a series of nuclear bombs that took out all major US cities. It's borders on cheesy from time to time but, quite frankly, I'd prefer some more cheesy, sentimental, "we'll-pull-through-it-together" type shows. Some books are "light reading" - this is "light viewing."

Freaks and Geeks

Freaks and Geeks just might have been the perfect show about teenagers ever. It's the most real account of high school and adolescence I've ever seen and watching it is like looking at old pictures from my family album. I appreciated Lindsey and Millie's friendship, Mr. and Mrs. Wier's marriage, how the show talks about sex, and Bill's peanut allergies. It's funny, sweet, and really well done. The only problem with the show is that there just one season. And how it ends (What the heck, Lindsey?!?). So two. There's two problems. But that's not bad for tv!

Doctor Who

The Doctor is an alien, of the Time Lord race, who travels through all of space and time in his Tardis - a spaceship that is disguised as a blue, British police box. He travels with companions and they go about saving the day. Also, he can regenerate so start with the 9th Doctor (I know, living mannequins, but it gets so much better.) and hold on to your hat. The show is a little silly, a little goofy, a little sentimental, and a lot of fun. Watch it and finally get all the jokes about Whovians, bow ties being cool, things being fantastic, and not blinking. Allons-y!

The Chicago Code

The Chicago Code follows a small group of police officers as they work to bring down the most powerful and corrupt city alderman. Good writing, good acting, and a really good story - my husband and I are still unsure why this show was cancelled. If you usually like cop shows then you should definitely watch it. If you don't usually "do" cop shows you should still give it a try, especially if you love Chicago.



So there you go. My ten favorite series, all available for streaming on Netflix.
Did I pick your favorites? Did I overlook any? I'd love to hear about your faves in the comment box.

And happy viewing!

saw it, liked it, thought I'd share it

This:

(But I don't really think Emma Stone is eating too many red velvet cupcakes.) 

Fairy Doors. Travis says I cannot do this to the tree in our backyard. Meanie.

I feel an obligation to make sure my daughter believes in fairies. I don't want her to believe in ghosts, monsters, and dragons because - quite frankly - satan is scary enough. But fairies, elves, mermaids and the rest - believing in them added such charm to my childhood.

Recently I said something to L about looking for fairies outside and she told me they only exist in the World of Imagination. Honestly, it felt like a parenting fail.

Cari's post on fatherhood as portrayed in the great zombie short Cargo.

Pretty much everything that is done at Mary Is My Homegirl. I love that tumblr.

This parody:

This Doctor Who t-shirt:

 (Travis: my birthday is July 25th. Take note.)

7 quick takes

1 - The first line is the best first line of any song ever.  You do know this song, right?  I was one year old when this song came out and I know it - surely you do, too!  It's one of my favorite Bruce Springsteen songs.  I love the story it tells and the characters that are developed in it.  It's amazing.  Favorite line in the song:  Well our luck may have died and our love may be cold but with you forever I'll stay. 

2 - Here's some updates on JF:

* He can say "Hi" "up" and "yeah" although he usually only says "hi" or grunts.  He can sign "more" "please" "where" "all done" "cracker" "book" and he waves hello and good-bye and will shake your hand if you say "Pleased to meet you."  Since he's 18 months he's definitely delayed in his communication but only by a few months, and he's quickly catching up!

* He was evaluated at Easter Seals as a follow-up, info gathering sorta thing for cooling babies. The physical therapist put his gross motor skills at 15 months (dumb bowed legs are partially to blame) and his fine motor at 16.5 (although his grasping skills were those of a 20 mo). His cognitive/learning skills placed him at 16 months. So, like I've said before, he's normal. :)

* He throws up almost every single day and while sometimes we know why (he gagged or lots of mucus-snot in his belly) a lot of the time we don't know why. He went to an allergist who thinks that JF may have eosinophilic esophogitis which means he throat is becoming inflamed due to allergies.  It's looking like the little guy will be seeing a specialist, having an endoscopy and biopsy, and hopefully we will figure all this out.

3 - Thanks to everyone who partook in the "No sex for months" conversation!  I wrote a little follow-up post, "So we're all in this together".  I'll probably be coming back to this a lot in the next months - my apologies now. 

4 - Speaking of sex: for months I've wanted to write a post about being a virgin when I got married and how great that was.   I want to write it not to make anyone feel bad but in hopes that it may encourage someone.  I have the post in my head, I just need to get to a place where I can type it out.

Look at how handsome my husband is!

5 - Last night I had dreams about zombies taking over the earth.  My zombies are always like the zombie/vampire things in I Am Legend.  (Why did I ever agree to watch that movie?  I hate scary movies!)  Of course every dream about zombies trying to break into your home is far, far worse when the only thing between them and my kids are me, hiding the kids as we crouch in a corner, and Travis with a shotgun. 

Travis dreamed that the strawberries in our garden had started to grow.

6 - So on Twitter, Facebook, and this blog I pleaded with JJ Heller to please sing her song My Savior's Love Endures when she is in Eureka next Friday for a concert.  The song means a lot to me as I sang it over JF when he was in the NICU. 

So it went down like this: 

 That's right - she said YES!  I'm so excited!  And I'll probably cry - fair warning to any central Illinoisans who may also be attending the upcoming JJ Heller / Audrey Assad show.

7 - On that note I'm going to shower, eat old donuts for breakfast and get dinner in the crockpot.  You know we're having meat today - Easter Friday and all!



A Picture Perfect Holiday... or not

This post was originally featured on Mama Needs Coffee. 

When Jenny asked me to share with her lovely readers about the traditions and decorations and incredibly well-though-out reasons behind them that help define Advent in our home I thought, "I've got this."

Here's the truth: I don't.

I sit here 38 weeks pregnant and having contractions. I have pain in my my SI joints that is so bad I sometimes cannot move and usually walk like a zombie. I can fall asleep on the sofa at any time of day. Dinner tonight may possibly be cold cereal.

The plans I had for this year's fall and winter have all pretty much been laid aside for the advent of the baby in my womb. Even the things three weeks ago I thought we'd be able to pull off have fallen to the wayside.

For sure we'd still be able to cut down a Christmas tree on Guadete Sunday... or not.
For sure I'd be able to make the St. Lucy rolls and share them with my friend's family who just had a Lucy of their own... or not.
For sure my eldest child and I would be able to do the Jesse Tree together, reading the Scripture and discussing the meaning... or not.
For sure I could at least sit with my kids and re-enact the nativity story with them using our toy nativity.... or not.

But all of that is okay. This Advent we're doing what we can do and the little things still matter and still make a difference. This year's Advent is different than last year's, just as they will each probably vary for us. Our little traditions don't make or break the holiday season and since I'm not the liturgical living police I'm not gonna sweat what we have not accomplished this year.

But because this is a peak about what we are doing to keep Advent in our home I'll show you what we have accomplished.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care and St. Nick filled them on the eve of his feast day.

Also, the "Dad Zone" was marked out on the carpet.

Our nativities were set up (we have 4, two of which are kid-friendly). The "grown up" nativities are empty, waiting for the Holy Family to arrive.

Holy Mary, St. Joseph, and their donkey always hang out on the Advent wreath until December 24th. We have lit the candles almost every night at dinner, singing "O Come, O Come, O Come-O" as my three year old calls it. Then ensures a lively discussion of who got to blow out the candles last and whose turn it is this night. No child has been burnt and the two year old's hair was only slightly singed, once. 

The Wise Men are on the bookshelf, way off in the Far East, aka: the far side of the living room. After Christmas they'll move to the Advent Wreath, where we'll have a white Christmas candle for the kids to fight over. 

My living room's gallery has a couple of items that change for each season: the "chalk board" (actually foam board and white paint pen) and the Audrey Eclectic artwork.

The kids art gallery (rope + clothespins attached to the wall) was cleared of all Thanksgiving artwork to make room for the Christmas projects. The Jesse Tree has a few more ornaments (colored and hung by my oldest) but then that petered out. But it still looks nice next to the nativity, which the kids do play with, even if we don't have theological conversations about it. 

And while we didn't actually cut down the tree on the Third Sunday of Advent, we did drive to a tree place in the steady rain. I sat in the minivan with the little kids while my husband bought a pre-cut one and tied it to the top of the vehicle with the help of our 6 year old (it was adorable). It stands, sorta majestically, in the corner of our living room with a crooked star and most of the decorations on the top half.

It took our family a few years to find which Advent traditions work best for us, but even those still fluctuate a bit. At this point, St. Nick filling stockings for his feast day (and no Santa at Christmas) works well for us - making it easier for me and my husband to teach about a saint and generosity while keeping the emphasis a bit more on Mass and Christ than on the presents. Having the nativities out but waiting for Christmas and Epiphany to move all the figures to the stable is a fun way for the kids to interact with the nativity story and they serve as aides in my personal prayer life as well. Getting the tree, cranking up the Christmas music, and busting out any remaining decorations on Rejoice! Sunday helps my family to actually rejoice.

All together, doing Advent the way we do makes it feels like our home is preparing a bit more each week for Christ's birth. It's like nesting, but for the Infant Christ.

Behind-the-scene studio pics, the great NW, and the winner is.....

In March I was able to visit the top left corner of the continental United States. It was still cold and snowy in Illinois so when I got to Oregon / Washington I was thrilled to see GREEN.

And more green. 

And flowers.

I went for two reasons: to speak at a women's conference and to record episodes of The Visitation Project, the radio show I co-host with Rebecca Frech and Heather Renshaw. 

Since the show launches in less than a week (!!!!!) I thought I'd share some pictures from my trip. 

I was greeted at the airport with this sign:

Spent some time blogging over my Subway lunch at the studio...

which is very Catholic.

And then we started it off with a bang... and a group shot... and a big box of tissues.

Heather, co-host and producer, and Keith, our sound engineer.

The equipment.

Show notes:

All ready for dinner with friends:

Before I left the lovely Caitlyn took me to The Grotto.

I finished my time in Portand a little soggy, reading blogs, and eating a Tillamook cheeseburger while waiting for my flight.

Recording the show was so fun, you guys and I can't wait for you to hear it and tell us what you think. We speak openly and honestly about being Christian, postpartum depression, music, our favorite saints, marriage, books, pop culture, theology, Scripture... all in a 26 minute show.

The studio's new website will be launching Friday and that's when I'll share the link so you can listen live Sunday night (if you wish) or download the audio file from the archives for your later listening enjoyment (if you prefer).

Thanks for all the support, friends. You're the best. 

And now, Cajun Texas Mom, YOU WON the TVP Loves Catholic Radio Giveaway!!! I'm so happy for you! Shoot me an email and we can work out the details. 


PS - As we gear up for the debut of The Visitation Project, Rebecca has been hosting a little "get to know the hosts" at her blog. You can go over there and see what Heather and I both have planned for the zombie apocalypse.

Five Favorites

1 - Best zombie movie ever. Many thanks to David Ives at B-Movie Catechism for featuring this at Catholic Exchange. In case the link disappears on the blog head over to YouTube and watch Cargo there. You'll be happy you did.



2 - All these blogger babies. Yay for Hallie, Dan, and Charlie! And Yay for Jen, Joe, and Joseph, with lots of prayers for a short NICU stay for Joseph.


3 - Bloglovin'. I love this site way more than I ever liked Google Reader.

4 - Venerable Fulton J. Sheen

People who hate Sheen will leave comments on my blog or on articles related to JF's story about how the man was nothing but a self-centered jerk. Ummm... the guy is a huge part of the healing of my son - who should be DEAD - so I don't really care if 60 years ago you met him and thought he was a snob. The fact that all these people go around trying to convince me that Sheen was a jerk says more about them than it does about Sheen. And you can't change my mind - I love Fulton Sheen!


5 - When the other track coaches tell Travis he doesn't have to go to the meet and instead should stay at school and run the practice with the other kids. This means he gets home at 5:30 instead of 9:30. Thank you, dear coaches, for giving me my husband in time for supper and before bedtime.