Insomnia

Woke up this morning at 5:00 am. Went to bed around 11:00, so that's only 6 hours of sleep, but my body was done. So I got up and worked on a story-in-progress. As usual, it has taken a new direction and now I've put it back down to let it percolate. My short stories always seem to spiral out of control - new elements, new characters, new developments. How does one weed through all that stuff? How do I know what is the story and what isn't? I read somewhere (probably Anne Lamott), that to write a good book, you write 800 pages then cut 600. The resulting 200 pages will be vastly improved for having the 600 pages of cut development. But wow, that's hard. Especially when you see elements you love, but just don't fit. And then you take them out, but they seem to still be missing.
So anyway, I did some writing until my elements had spiraled beyond the current gestation state, and then I surfed the net and am now writing a blog entry about insomnia. At least it's been a productive couple of hours...

Lovely Breakfast

This morning Dale and I had the pleasure of breakfast with Dori and Ian. They cooked us a lovely full breakfast and we had a great visit!

Perverted cats

Today, I came home from church to find THIS:
I don't know which is worse: the fact that both of them are male neutered cats, or the fact that Shadow also had surgery to remove his cat penis and reshape his urethra into a girl cat urethra (long story).
Oh, and if you don't see anything wrong with this photo, enjoy your innocence!

Fringe, SPOILER ALERT

OK, so we know that Bell is still really devious and unethical. Super devious and unethical, in fact. But my question remains: which Belli are we seeing? Are we seeing Walter's friend Belli, from our world? Or are we seeing the Alt-Bell? Which one is Nina Sharp communicating with? Which one did Olivia see? Which one did the surgery on Walter? It seems to me that the answers to these questions change the whole picture of what is, exactly, going on here.

Tired of Tiger

Yep, I'm tired of the Tiger talk. We've got troops massing in Afghanistan, continued violence in Iraq, a global conference about the climate approaching, and we're fixated on Tiger's problems.
I don't care. Tiger Woods is attractive and rich, so girls throw themselves at him. He and his wife have a prenup. She took drastic, melodramatic action after he had his wreck, maybe while driving under the influence. So what! This kind of thing happens all the time. Subtract the "attractive and rich" part and it is happening in your neighborhood, maybe right now. It is not news. The only area in which Tiger has proven himself to be a good role model is in golf. Yes, you should imitate Tiger in golf. But he's not a role model in any other way. At least when Christian preachers fall from grace you can rightly point the finger and say they are being bad role models. Tiger's private life was never intended to be a role model for anybody.
Tying into my last post, this is why athletes and other celebrities embracing causes makes me nervous. Tim Tebow is a good football player. Is he a good Christian? Maybe. Lots of people think so. But should we be imitating him? No. Mostly because I would look ridiculous with verses written under my eyes on black patches. But also because Tebow has proven his athletic skill - he is an athlete, not a professional Christian. And I'm glad he's open about his faith. That's great. But I hope he is taking good care of himself - with accountability and prayer, so that he doesn't go through some Tiger-like fall from grace.

You Go, Football Player Witness!

So during some of the football this weekend, I noticed a player with a bible verse written in his eye darkening patches. (I don't know the official term). I THINK it was Tim Tebow, but don't hate me if I'm wrong. Anyway, the verse was John 16:33. And I felt a bit cynical. Sort of like, yeah, sure, make a big deal about your faith. Like that's really going to change anyone's life.
And then this morning, on my friends' blog, I read this. And I was very impressed. My friend Kerry has shed all her possessions and, after a long journey, is finally moving overseas to bring hope and love to children living in a slum. And Tim Tebow's verse spoke to her. So I apologize to all football players who like to broadcast their faith. You go!

Fringe

Brilliant episode last night. Poor Walter, trying so hard to be independent and then being reduced to almost weeping at a bus stop! Brilliant acting. Looks like Astrid is getting pulled into the dysfunctional family. And then, just as the episode was becoming just too touching and heart-wrenching, we get Walter's fabulous line to Peter: "I've installed a tracking device in my neck."
Wow! A perfect touch, allowing the viewer to laugh hysterically, relieving all the emotional tension from the episode!

FRINGE

So tonight has another episode of Fringe. I am very much looking forward to settling down on the sofa with a cozy blanket, glass of milk or hot tea, a slice of French Silk pie. Sadly, it is not homemade - Dale and I wanted Chocolate Cream Pie, but French Silk was all they had. Still, it is delicious, and covered in whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Yummm.
Of course, this promises to be a really disgusting Fringe, with human-eating worms. But that's ok. I'll still enjoy my pie. I'll just pretend to be Walter and let the grossness inspire my gustatory impulses.