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August 31, 2005
Help for PCA folk affected by Katrina
From Covenant's all-campus announcements:
"This is a big blow to Southeast Louisiana Presbytery. We may have lost three churches, two church plants and a Ministry. They are: Desire Street Fellowship plant, Desire Street ministries. Three Rivers Presbyterian Church in Covington, Trinity Presbyterian in Slidell, Redeemer Church plant in New Orleans, and Grace Presbyterian Church, Metarie. The fate of all of these is unknown at this time. Life around here has changed for a while. Pray that we will minister and the church should during this lengthy event."
PCA members will be able to provide assistance for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Mission to North America will oversee disaster relief through Ron and Judy Haynes, who will coordinate PCA volunteer efforts. Many types of skills and time commitments will be needed once the assessment of needs is completed. To register to volunteer, go here. You can also e-mail Ron and Judy: rhanes [at] pcanet [dot] org.
Financial donations are also needed. It is anticipated that there will be needs for months to come for direct assistance to PCA families and for relief operations expenses. Donations can be sent by check to MNA designated for Hurricane Relief to 1700 N. Brown Rd., #101, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, or by credit card online. Donations of food, clothes, etc., for now, should be made to other organizations that are making appeals for immediate needs.
And claim the promises of Psalm 46 for everyone still reeling from this disaster.
Posted by elissa at 03:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
For William Carlos Williams
-- a "found" poem in the ENG 114 syllabus
Keep reading to see what we're really talking about today...
Continue reading "For William Carlos Williams"
Posted by elissa at 02:56 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
August 30, 2005
I Disregard the Promise of Motorcycle Athleticism in Favor of Marvelling at Facial Hair
This morning I found a hastily scribbled post-it note stuffed in my wallet:
stunt team... russian "cossacks" but also from seattle? embroidered polos, the biggest mustaches, generous tattoo work
When an incongruent trio of men walked into Taco Mac last Thursday, I was undeniably intrigued. There was a young, broad-shouldered guy, clean-shaven and with a hint of fuzz for a haircut. His red, silk-screened t-shirt boasted the cartoonish outlines of three men, presumably with epaulettes and military hats, standing on each other's shoulders while the bottom fellow gripped the handlebars of his cartoon motorcycle. "A thrift store find, perhaps?" I thought. And a good one, at that.
The second man, middle aged with iron-gray hair pulled back into ponytail, had a luxurious handlebar mustache of such proportion and thickness that would churn up viridian envy in any respectable mid-19th century gentleman. His tattooed arms bulged out of his dashing leather vest and polo shirt combination.
Their companion was wheelchair-bound. But, as his silvery, dense mustache, elaborately-inked arms, impressive girth, and rumbling laugh would suggest, he was the patriarch, the figurehead, the proprietor of whatever bewildering bond existed between the three.
More men filed in -- almost twenty at the highest count -- the majority of them with upper lips so fastidiously groomed into mustaches of fantastic shape and size that you might momentarily suspect that you had intruded upon a meeting of upper-lip horticulturists. But the t-shirts, embroidered polos, and emblazoned caps gave it away: they were the Seattle Cossacks, and they were in Chattanooga to make the fantastic happen at the National HOG Rally.
I never saw them ride, per se, but the facial hair alone was enough to make me a fan.
Posted by elissa at 10:11 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 26, 2005
Friday Food: The Most Versatile Beef Stir-Fry In the World!
Beef Stir-Fry With Vegetables of Choice
serves 4-6
I grew up eating this with broccoli, but since Noel won't eat broccoli, I've changed it to zucchini or green beans and it's *still* onolicious. This marinade works well even if you just want to grill or broil an Asian-flavored steak!
1 lb. beef steak (top round; thin cut is the easiest)
3-4 Tbs. soy sauce
1 Tbs. cornstarch
1 Tbs. dry sherry or white wine
1 Tbs. sugar (white or brown, depending on taste)
1 Tbs. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. powdered ginger (or 1 tsp. minced ginger)
pinch of baking soda (to tenderize, if you have a cheapo piece of meat like I often do!)
1/2 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 medium zucchini
OR a generous helping of broccoli
OR several good handfuls of fresh green beans
- Cut beef into 2" strips with the grain, and then into 1/4" thick slices against the grain. Mix with soy sauce, cornstarch, sherry/wine, sugar, ginger, garlic, and pinch of baking soda). Let the beef marinate for at least one hour.
- Cut up vegetables of choice.
- Heat 2 Tbs. of oil in wok (or big ol' frying pan). Add onions, celery, and other vegetable, stirring constantly until the onion turns clear. Empty vegetables out of wok into serving dish and set aside.
- Heat 2-3 more Tbs. of oil in wok. Add beef mixture and stir constantly until beef is fully cooked. If the mixture gets too thick or starts to stick, add a couple tablespoons of water.
- Once the beef is cooked through, add the vegetables back into the wok and heat through.
Serve with hot sticky rice or fried noodles.
Posted by elissa at 04:38 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 25, 2005
Being a Crayola Color-Namer Always was My Back-up Plan
Somehow -- even though I was home schooled through all my growing-up years, and the legendary euphoria of new back-to-school supplies was thusly limited -- I've always associated the beginning of the school year with a new packet of markers.
Before age 5, I had already developed a fairly sophisticated evaluation and acceptance system for my drawing and writing implements. Crayons did not give me the brilliant, sopping color that my young eyes desired, so I switched my loyalties to markers accordingly. Until age 5 1/2 or 6, the wide tipped "classic color" set was adequate. Then, I discovered, promptly became wildly obsessed with, detail.
Fine tip markers did indeed solve my dilemma over fine facial features and intricate clothing patterns, but they also ushered in a new era of color use. My mom didn't only buy me classic colored fine tips -- she bought me the deluxe set. Suddenly, I had three different blues, two different greens, a light pink, a magenta, and a gray at my disposal! The entire world opened up to my mark-making and I scribbled at it eagerly. The best days were ones where layer after layer of marker rubbed off onto the flat cushion of my sweaty fist, creating a shimmering purple-green-blue-yellow-red-black bruise of ink. It was an artist's mark, and I loved it.
Every once in a while, I would be given a set of "special edition" Crayola wide tip markers. The "Easter" collection. The "Jungle" collection. The "Tropical" collection. At first, I used those designer colors with thin-lipped stinginess, wanting to make them last as long as possible. But, as my sense of color matured, I at last learned to appreciate the subtleties provided by drying-out markers. The "gray" marker really usually was too dark for coloring elephants and castles. An old black marker, that left bits of felt streaking in its wake, was much more effective. Plus, it had a built-in texture simulator.
The semester began today. I'm teaching now, and I haven't owned a good set of markers since the middle of high school. But all of a sudden I'm wondering if having a fine-tipped, deluxe-colored bouquet of markers is what I need to get this year started right.
Posted by elissa at 03:48 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
August 23, 2005
Fall Fashion (or) How to Wear Your Sleeping Bag
CHATTY -- The blouse -- feminine, flowing, and fluttery -- is back for fall. But if you thought that The Blouse need always be sweetly ladylike, Viktor & Rolf would like to prove you wrong.
Subtlty is an art that need not be mastered. Pair this lavishly ruffled blouse with slim pants for balance and try to stay away from industrial fans, small, homeless birds, and folks with colds.
If a softly tied bow at the neck is too demure for your imperious personality, then channel Queen Elizabeth I with a boxy, bedclothesy, stiffly trimmed collar. There's no need to carry a purse with this fantastic number; any necessities can be gently cradled in a pillowy home along your neckline. There's also enough room for a puppy or a small infant.
Of course, the modern girl's primary fashion demand is that the outfit be "comfortable." And what could possibly be more comfortable than your bed? A brilliant idea, and far more classy than wearing pajama bottoms to class.
The best thing, ladies? These are all part of V&R's ready-to-wear collection, available for purchase by you, the common consumer.
Posted by elissa at 03:54 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
August 22, 2005
Life on the Side
[doodle]
Pressing Questions:
In Death of a Salesman, is Willy Loman a truly tragic hero, or is this merely the story of a small, pathetic man's demise? Does a "tragedy" need to be about a *great* person?
Did anyone else know that Dr. Sizemore is an incredible dancer? Because he has a surprisingly graceful Venetian waltz.
Who's read this article from the New York Times about rising Christian artists?
Spider Progress:
Agatha gorged herself over the weekend and went up three dress sizes. Petunia, unable to keep up, abandoned her original web and set up shop farther into the yard.
On the Domestic Front:
The primary motivation for polishing our wooden floors is because a lack of traction makes chasing Whittier around the house that much more exciting.
Next Big Thing:
My new favorite accessory is the blue Faculty/Staff sticker on our Jetta. Ah, sweet Sandersonian parking awaits me.
[/doodle]
Posted by elissa at 04:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 19, 2005
Tonight's Make-up
From About.com's "Create a 1920 Flapper's Face."
- Apply rouge/blush in any shade of deep rose or a berry shade on the fullest part of your cheeks. DO NOT BLEND.
- Darken and elongate your brows to the temple. You will want as thin a line as possible.
- Line every inch of your eyes... thickly and then smudge.
- Apply light shadow on lid and dark shadow on bone and smudge.
- Curl lashes and then apply three coats of mascara.
- Apply foundation to lips.
- Apply lipstick to the pads of your thumbs and then apply two thumb prints to the top lip and the bottom lip creating a cupids bow. Using a pencil follow the contours of the lips and the corners.
With lips like this, I'll be irresistible.
Posted by elissa at 03:11 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Friday Food: Korean Kim Chee Meatballs
I love these. This is one of my mom's signature potluck dishes back home and one of my favorites to make when we have company.
Korean Meatballs
1 1/4 lbs ground beef
1/3 c shoyu
2 1/2 tsp sesame oil
1/2 c green onion
3/4 c chopped kim chee (and it's available at Wal-Mart now!)
1 Tbs garlic
4 1/2 Tbs flour
2 1/2 Tbs sugar
1 egg
Mix together and shape into meatballs. Bake 350 degrees about 20-30 minutes. Turn and bake another 15 minutes or until done.
(You can line a 9 x 13 inch pan or cookie sheet and place a cookie rack on the pan. Place meatballs on the rack to bake.)
This is great with sticky rice and a lettuce-cilantro-mandarin-oranges-plus-oil-and-vinegar-dressing salad.
Posted by elissa at 09:46 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 18, 2005
In Which I Come To Terms with Large Spiders in My Backyard
Two spiders have spun themselves homes right outside of our home. They're either sisters or bitter rivals, as they have constructed rather elaborate and identical webs directly opposite each other.
I admit. They kind of creep me out.
But, thankfully for The Husband -- who would otherwise be cajoled and emotionally harassed into removing the spider sisters from the premises -- I tend to believe that you can come to terms with anything if you can come to terms with it on an aesthetically formal level:
Still, I wouldn't count on spiders making it into any of my paintings soon.
Posted by elissa at 01:44 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 17, 2005
You Can Provide Covenant Students With an Alternative Viewpoint!
Let us briefly return to those hallowed halls of learning: the English department.
Kate Chopin's "Story of an Hour" (1894) is a compact, pithy tale that takes a couple of minutes to read but can provide disproportionate amounts of discussion. In my brief stint as a substitute English professor, this story is supposed to be used, among other things, as an example of how a reader's values and assumptions -- in this case, attitudes towards marriage -- insert themselves into literary interpretation.
While this is a true and helpful observation to make, a problem arises when you realize that the Covenant classroom will be fairly homogeneous: young, unmarried Christians, mostly white, and many of whom share strong and specific ideas about marriage.
If you care at all about broadening young minds -- or at least satisfying my own curiousity -- read the story and tell me this: did you find Mrs. Mallard to be a sympathetic character? Is she a selfish monster or a victim of society? Are those two views mutually exclusive? How -- if at all -- do you think your own age, gender, experience, religion, social background, etc. influences your response?
Even if you don't respond, you should still read. Chopin's a wonderful writer, with a distinctive voice and viewpoint that did not garner acceptance, much less praise, until decades after her death. Two minutes to read a story that will introduce you to an important proto-feminist? This is a high return of culture points.
Posted by elissa at 11:14 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
August 15, 2005
The Internet Spoke, and It Said That Christopher Walken is Running for President.
The internet tells me that Christopher Walken is running for president in 2008. According to a press release on the"official" Christopher Walken for President 2008 campaign website, the actor announced his intentions at a private conference last week. Because of current filming obligations, the campaign will keep a relatively low profile, possibly until early 2007. Walken's agent says that there are no plans for "going national" with the news in "the immediate future."
Okay, so, actually it's part of an elaborate prank by an online forum (or so says a Christopher Walken Fan Club!). But, let's be honest. Questions of authenticity aside, this is fun!
First, you have the initial reaction. How do you feel about a man renowned for playing psychologically troubled characters sitting in the Oval Office?
Then, there's the sweet recursive nature of the acceptance-and-suspicion of both traditional and online media. At least on some level, this hoax perpetuated its aura of believability because of bloggers' recent success in one-upping newspapers and television news. The pranksters used this blog-as-a-news-source explosion to their definite advantage. As I write this, "Christopher Walken" is the number two search on Technorati. Still, even with over 5,000 blogs (both believing and disbelieving) posting about our newest presidential candidate, my reflex was to Google the news, looking to find affirmation or denial of the claims from a traditionally-accepted source.
And, finally, there's the stylistic delight of campaign writing. I love good political copy:
Choice quotes include Walken's agent, Toni Howard:
Mr. Walken has greatly admired the celebrities who have entered politics and he wants to be able to give a good name and reputation to the acting community as well as the political community."
As well as from the brief online bio:
Having residences both in rural Connecticut and upper-west Manhattan, he sees that all walks of life are becoming disgruntled and apathetic towards the American government, and feels a duty, as a child of the American public, to restore the peace, prosperity, and greatness of the United States.
And the man himself, explaining why he wants to be a politician:
That is what I love to be, a man of respect and love
The lesson to be gleaned from this fiasco is clear: having your high school civics class create fake presidential campaign websites would be a fantastic group writing project.
Posted by elissa at 10:52 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
August 12, 2005
Updates on the Duble Family
Look at Josiah's blog and at Covenant's update page for more information about the Duble's. This sweet, personal tidbit is from an e-mail from Pastor Eric to the Rock Creek congregation:
I was thankful to encounter the joyful relief of hearing Kyra in the background as Troy was discussing songs that we ought to sing at the funeral. “Nothing but the Blood”, Kyra inserted, “because,” chimed in Troy, “Noah loved to sing that song.” Troy wanted me to distribute his and Sarah’s shared gratitude for your continuous pleading to Jesus for them and their Kyra. “She’s not acting afraid to talk about him (Noah).” Please continue praying for this little girl who is enduring the large, unsettling notion of facing a future without her best friend."
Join us in praying for and with the Duble family, 6:30pm, tonight at Rock Creek!
--- edit ---
A memorial service for Noah Duble will be held at 4:00 pm, Sunday, August 14, 2005 at Rock Creek Fellowship. Map.
Posted by elissa at 07:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 10, 2005
Pray for Noah Duble!
The details are still sketchy but the what we do know is frightening. Please cover little Noah Duble in prayer tonight!
The whole family is out of state right now, and Noah apparently had some sort of accident -- possibly hitting his head -- while swimming. He was taken to the emergency room unconscious and on a respirator. The last report we received was that they had cleared out his breathing passages, but he was still unconscious and his lungs were full of water. His condition and prognosis are very, very uncertain.
Pray that God would be working in Noah's body through every person that touches him. Please pray for strength, active peace, and miraculous faith for every member of the Duble family, for freedom from fear, from guilt, and from doubt. Pray that God would grant a true and deep belief when we pray, with pregnant repetition, "Thy will be done."
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by. . . .
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
Psalm 57:1, 3
Posted by elissa at 09:17 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
August 09, 2005
Writing Center Adverts, II
Rewriting is like scrubbing the basement floor with a toothbrush.
-- Pete Murphy
The Writing Center.
We have toothbrushes.
Posted by elissa at 04:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 08, 2005
Continuing the Most Brilliant Writing Center Advertisements Covenant Has Known
I will lure them with snobby wit.
"I am returning this otherwise good typing paper to you
because someone has printed gibberish all over it
and put your name at the top."
-- English Professor (Name Unknown), Ohio University
We protect typing paper from injurious gibberish.
Posted by elissa at 05:20 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 05, 2005
Friday Food: Oatmeal Pancakes, Yum!
Okay, so this isn't exactly a Hawaii-inspired dish, but it's one of my favorite recipes from my mom. These taste great with peanut-butter-and-honey or even just with natural fruit jelly.
Oatmeal Pancakes
Combine:
1 c regular or quick cooking oatmeal
1 c whole wheat flour
1/4 c wheat germ
1/4 nonfat dry milk powder
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1 T brown sugar
In another bowl combine:
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 c buttermilk
4 T butter/margarine, melted and cooled
- Add to dry ingredients, stir until well-blended.
- Preheat griddle, grease slightly
- Spoon batter onto griddle; cook till bubbly and turn
- Makes 16 5-inch pancakes
Posted by elissa at 04:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
For Josiah and Aaron
Remember my earlier fascination with boom trikes?
Well, in a recent conversation with The Husband, Josiah, April, and Aaron, we concocted a cunning plan to obtain a spot on a local tv channel and bring "Pimp My Bike" to St. Elmo. It would be the best feel-good show ever.
Apparently, however, the Germans are ahead of us. Really, the Europeans (and MTV) have this thing down to an art.
Still, don't let the dream die, Mesh. I think Stelmo would have a completely different aesthetic and the need for much, much bigger speakers.
Posted by elissa at 09:32 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 04, 2005
An Open Letter to Those Whom My Google Juice Has Misled
Gentle Google-Sent Reader,
You came looking for animated gifs. Now, I'm torn. I don't want to get our relationship off on the wrong foot, but I feel compelled to express my utter bewilderment at your insistence on sprinkling blinking, spinning, or otherwise morphing bits of digital glitter across the web. That's coming perilously close to using the dreaded "blink" tag, and we all know what happens to people who use the "blink" tag.
Still, I feel as if I may have misled you with my blog title, and for that I am truly sorry. So, as a virtual olive branch, dear reader, I have culled online animation sites to marshall together those bits of pep that you have sought after. Unless my site tracker has deceived me, all of images are ones that some peruser or another has hoped to find within these pages. Honest.
Besides, who knows how many other folks out there are looking for that elusive animated noodle?
Finally, Gentle Reader, as I've done you a favor now I ask one in return. Please don't use these on your website.
Cordially,
- elissa
P.S. Follow the jump to find your heart's desire; it's too painful to put on the initial blog page...
Continue reading "An Open Letter to Those Whom My Google Juice Has Misled"
Posted by elissa at 07:01 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 03, 2005
The Mysterious Ways of Concrete Spheres
When I went to meet The Husband for lunch today, I parked on Patten Parkway and noticed this...
Upon more careful examination, we decided that it had fallen (or, more likely, been forcibly removed)...
from here...
landed...
and then rolled or been rolled...
and was not to be moved any further.
Mesh, do you have anyone to spare to do some investigative Chicken-Little-like reporting on this?
---- Update -----
A return to Patten Parkway to pick-up said Husband from work revealed that the orb had apparently disapparated. We are now on the lookout for zombies armed with a catapult.
Posted by elissa at 04:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 01, 2005
Opinion Anorexia: The Lure of a Low-Calorie Intake of Alternate Perspectives
If you've been keeping up with The Husband's blog, you've probably read his response to Doug Phillip's essay "Harry Potter and the Lavender Brigade." You may also have read the responses that Doug himself received. And if you did all that, then you probably, gentle reader, noticed the paucityof disagreement from his readers. The choir answered in soaring tones with resounding "amens."
Not that it comes as much of a surprise.
After all, you sign up for e-mail newsletters from people that you trust; you subscribe to magazines that interest you; you buy cd's of lectures from people you respect. When it comes to our money and our time, we often (and I might say understandably so) equate "stewardship" with a strict information-consumption diet of conservative media and a few carefully-chosen Christian commentators. But even within the Christian sphere of cultural-analysis there are a slew of choices, ranging, perhaps, from Doug Phillips-like folk on the vanilla end, World Magazine and friends in the strawberry section, and Relevant Magazine holding down the chocolate. So I like chocolate. I buy chocolate. I don't buy vanilla. Makes sense, right?
It makes so much sense, actually, that I'm fairly confident in suggesting that your run-of-the-mill evangelical is not the only or prime culprit. Opinion anorexia affects all political, religious, and moral persuasions. It's in our nature to desire affirmation. With the constant spray of information shot at us each day, it's simply easier to read people that you feel like you can wholeheartedly trust. There's even, as Richard Posner recently posited in a New York Times essay, economic reasons for the growing movement away from the middle and towards the ends of the political continuum.
Of course, our prediliction for a certain course of action hardly makes it right.
The point of all of this reading should be to fufill at least a three-fold calling:
- a calling to be humble; to recognize my own blindness and the vanity of ever believing that I have attained whole truth
- a calling to be a culture-maker; "subduing the earth" can only happen if we engage the earth
- a calling to be a student of theology; that means reading the Bible itself, not just what other people say about the Bible
And that leaves me with a bundle of questions. I read the New York Times, Salon, and Relevant and listen to NPR; does active humility mean thoughtfully reading Vision Forum as well? (Yech. It's easier to read to my left than to my right.) If I believe that multiple perspectives are an invaluable resource, then how do I encourage other friends and family to consume a multi-course media meal? How do you write and speak with conviction, while encouraging your audience to sift you with the Word of God? How do we consume a hearty, ranging diet of opinions and analysis that strengthens instead of bloats us?
I don't know. But I don't think a skinny mind will do.
Posted by elissa at 03:38 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack