Stuck In My Head

So I've had Hannah Montana songs stuck in my head for the last couple of days. Her devilishly catchy tunes simply cannot be shaken from my mind easily. I may have to stop watching the show just for the fact that whatever song is sung (I accidentally typed "dung" there when writing up my draft of this post... totally unintentional, but it may speak of what my subconscious thinks of Miss Miley) is replayed for hours on end following the credits. I need to get some good music stuck in my head. Liiiiike...

Addison Road! Their new album "Stories" came out a few weeks ago, and I downloaded it (legally, of course) the first available day. I loved their first album and have seen them in concert twice so far, so I was kinda nervous about how good album numero dos would be. I was disappointed with the quality of my beloved Tenth Avenue North's new album and I didn't want to feel that way about Addison Road. But I loved it!!! It was the same kinda stuff that I was attracted to in the beginning, but I can tell they have grown some as a band. I like that.

One of the things I really like in this album is how they sing about potentially depressing topics, but the music is very upbeat and does not reflect the expected feeling of the song. For example, the song "Don't Wait" begins "Today I lost a friend of mine, I never even got to say goodbye, I thought we had time to burn, but life is short you only get one turn..." But the music for this song was far from draggy and funeral procession-y. It quickly became one of those songs I dance to while driving down the highway with people looking at me funny.

Now I gotta take a quick bunny trail. I love how what could be sad songs are sung happily, but I hate it when the opposite happens. Happy songs should not sound sad. I will never forget one time the song "Beulah Land" was sung so horribly in a church. They were supposed to be singing about the joy at going to Heaven, but they slowed it down tremendously and it sounded like they were on their way to the other place. So yeah, don't make the tune ruin the happy. End bunny trail.

I'm also rediscovering the awesomeness that is Owl City. I already adore the songs "Fireflies" and "Vanilla Twilight" but just the other day I listened to the song "Rugs From Me To You." I'm not even going to bother trying to describe it, because I know I'm gonna crack up and then the rest of this post will be nothing but typos. So just go listen to it for yourself here and then you'll understand why Adam Young is now on a new level of awesome.

Superhero Capes?

I was thinking about superheroes yesterday. I've no idea why, really, but I got to thinking about why on earth they have capes. For the comic book and movie heroes that I know of, their capes serve no real purpose. But why is it such a staple for heroes like Superman and Batman? Random questions like this are always popping into my head, and I like researching and blogging about them, so this kinda stuff may be a regular feature.

Anyways, using my limited knowledge of superheroes, it doesn't seem very practical at all. Instead, I would think it would be more of a hindrance than a help. Edna Modes, the suit designer on "The Incredibles" (one of my favorite Disney/Pixar flicks ever) relayed the potential problems quite clearly while talking to Mr. Incredible about a new suit...

Edna: It will be bold! Dramatic!

Bob: Yeah!

Edna: Heroic!

Bob: Yeah. Something classic, like, like Dynaguy. Oh, he had a great look! Oh, the cape and the boots...

Edna: [throws a wadded ball of paper at Bob's head] No capes!

Bob: Isn't that my decision?

Edna: Do you remember Thunderhead? Tall, storm powers? Nice man, good with kids.

Bob: Listen, E...

Edna: November 15th of '58! All was well, another day saved, when... his cape snagged on a missile fin!

Bob: Thunderhead was not the brightest bulb...

Edna: Stratogale! April 23rd, '57! Cape caught in a jet turbine!

Bob: E, you can't generalize about these things...

Edna: Metaman, express elevator! Dynaguy, snagged on takeoff! Splashdown, sucked into a vortex!

Edna: No capes!

Smart woman. With even a Disney movie discussing the danger of capes, I can't help but wonder why they're so widespread in comic book culture. So I took the question to Facebook and got some kinda funny responses...

1. "We think they are stylish and they make a great blanket when you take your girl out for a picnic."

2. "They wear them to cover unsightly bulges."

3. "How could the comic books draw you in an epic pose if there wasn't a cape billowing behind you in the moonlight?"

The first two made me laugh, but the third one is probably closest to reality. It does look cool when it's flapping around in the wind, giving the appearance of movement in a still two-dimensional picture. But then I checked into some online comic book forums to see what they thought...

"In Batman's case, the cape makes him look bigger, which makes it harder for crooks to shoot him while also being intimidating." - I totally get that. If I met Batman in a dark alley, would I be more scared of him if he were in his tights and pointy mask alone? Or would the silhouette of a flapping cape make him appear more menacing? Definitely scarier with the cape. Also, Batman's cape apparently does have some practical applications as it is bulletproof, or something like that. Why not go all sci-fi and give him a force field?!?! Get with it, that's what all the superheroes are doing nowadays.

So it seems like it's all for looks, either for enhancing comics or the fright factor of a suit. Edna would totally disapprove. And now that I know the answer to this question, I may have to now discover why superheroes wear their underpants on the outside. I don't think that anything could justify that.

Living With Little?

In light of my last post depicting my happiness about shopping, this article seemed ridiculous when I first read it. A couple in Oregon are living with 100 items each including clothes and other necessities. Just in my dresser I have probably 200 items already, so the idea of living with so little seemed insane. But what about all my beloved shoes?? What about my Psych DVD collection?? And oh my gosh, what about my bag full of makeup must-haves?!?!?! But upon further thought, it really doesn't sound all that bad.

In my Sunday School class, we've been talking about the costs of being a follower of Christ. One of those costs is that we "give up" all the possessions we have. (Luke 14:33) It does not necessarily mean that we are to walk through life with nothing but the clothes on our backs, but upon deeper study into my trusty lexicon, it means "our belongings being placed away from us into their proper category and not being permitted to be a part of us." So in essence, do not be attached to your possessions, and put them in their "proper category" so that your priorities remain in the right place.

And then today, Dad was preaching about being content with what we have instead of chasing satisfaction in things that cannot give it. Hebrews 13:5 says "Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.'" I cannot get satisfaction from the latest product of awesomeness and God has promised to care for me, so why do I bother seeking contentment in anything but Him?

All that being said, I don't think I'm gonna start living with 100 items alone. God has chosen to bless me with lotsa stuff to dust, and I don't want to waste it, haha! But what if I started spending less money on unnecessary and temporary things and focusing on God for my satisfaction? Not only would my life feel richer because I was closer to my Heavenly Father, but I would be able to save up for maybe a  house later on in life and I would also have excess money to give to my church and to those who need help! Who really needs 20 pairs of shoes anyhow?

Shopping Like There's No Tomorrow

One of the things I looked forward to most when starting another semester at school was shopping for new school supplies. I was never quite singing "It's the most wonderful time of the year" in my head while dancing down the aisles like in that old Staples commercial, but it was still fun to choose new notebooks and pens. Even last year in college, my friend and I would show off our new supplies and "ooooh" and "aaaah" at all the pretty colors.

But now that I am done with school (for now at least) I don't have the option to enjoy shopping for such stuffage. Well, I could I guess, but I would never use the stuff. And now that I have a car payment, I can't just be wasting money like that. I say that, but I've been spending money left and right on other things that I may or may not have needed...

Ever since I dropped most of my savings for the down payment on my beloved car, I've been spending money on like... everything. I had been saving up cash for years for my big purchase, and now I've suddenly started buying everything awesome in sight. Apparently I'm making up for denying myself everything awesome for the last few years. I will probably regret it later. But there are a few things I bought that I'm super happy about.

My favorite Roxy flip flops were practically dead. After wearing them every day for ten months out of the year, even really nice flip flops need replacing. When I went to my favorite surf shop to purchase a new pair, they did not have the kind I wanted. So I splurged a little and bought some double stacked Rainbows. Oh my gosh, it's like walking on a cloud. In fact, I loved them so much that I went back three days later and bought a pink pair that I have already planned to wear with my Sunday dresses. Including the amazing Reebok Easytones I bought recently, I have spent nearly $200 on shoes in the past month. Am I crazy? Don't answer that.

I've also been going kinda makeup crazy too. My cousin is selling Avon now and I have fallen in love with their mascara and lip gloss. But it's justifiable because it's cheaper than the Lancome stuff I was using, and much better. I wish I had jumped on this bandwagon a loooong time ago. Also while Sam and I were shopping spree-ing in Wilmington, we walked into an Ulta store on a whim. It was either a mistake or an act of God, I haven't figured out which yet. But they were having this big promotion that if you bought about $20 worth of Ulta products, you could get a bag full of makeup goodies. And we did it. I think I've found a line of makeup that I will love for the rest of my life.

Will somebody please take my debit card from me before I go completely crazy? Thanks.

What Am I Looking At?

A couple weeks ago, two thirds of my family took off to Myrtle Beach SC for a week long summer youth conference. This is only the second time in the last ten years that the bus full of luggage, teens and snacks has taken off without me. Although I did get to follow it down there a couple days later to rescue my mommy with a sore back. Nine hours of driving in my new car, baby. But the eye twitching in the last hour tells me that my limit should just be eight. Anyways, the few days of a silent house gave me a chance to remember several of the things I had learned while attending SeeSalt.

Yep, it's called SeeSalt. I know you're thinking "They spelled it wrong!" but no, it's intended to be that way. That, or they misspelled it while first creating the conference and never bothered to change it. But since the constant theme of the conference is being the light of the world and salt of the earth, Imma go with a purposeful misspelling. The conference is unique in more aspects then just its name though. Unlike many other youth conferences, they use no preaching in their evening worship services. At all. All of their messages are told through brilliant dramatic performances and it is quite effective. For someone like me who has grown up listening to sermons each Sunday, it's a refreshing change and always enjoyed it.

Every time I attended the conference, I came home having learned so much. While I could go on and on about all the various things I discovered, one of the things that has stayed with me is an interesting aspect of the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) that I never really considered before then. I forget the main point of the class I had heard this in, but the teacher went on to talk about how the Israelites were paralyzed in fear at the sight of the giant while young David confidently went to battle with him. She pointed out that the main issue the Israelites had was where they were placing their focus. While they were busy focusing on the size and muscle of the enemy, David was focusing on God and all His power. The people shook in their boots while David was peaceful and calm, knowing that their great and mighty God would give him the victory.

So who are we looking at? Who are we focusing on? Are we focusing on the problems standing before us ready to beat us to a bloody pulp? Or are we focusing on the God who has the power to use the abilities He gave us to defeat the threat? So often I get caught up in a paralyzing, dropped-jaw stare at the challenges facing me that I forget He promised He would take care of me no matter what. I need to divert my focus from the problems and place it on the ultimate Problem Solver. He's much bigger than my problem anyways, so why do I even bother wasting the time and energy by being scared of it? Apparently, that lesson is a little more difficult to learn than the ones at the conference.