Christian Gyms

Hey, there has been some media coverage lately about gyms designed for Christians. Interesting. Here is a link. What do you think?

Christian Gyms Story in the New York Times

Twilight, New Moon and Blah, Blah, Blah

Reading the third book in the Twilight Series makes me wonder if the male hero of the story is a substitute for both Jesus and the perfect husband. What more could you ask for? (How about strong relationships with Jesus and my real husband?)


So, when all the girls ages 12 to 18 at church were talking about these books Twilight and New Moon by Stephanie Meyer last summer, I decided to check it out so I could relate to them better or whatever. As I read the first book, I thought to myself a few times, "Is this actually a good book?" I couldn't decide. I liked parts, and I knew they were really popular, but I kept asking (quietly) what is wrong here? Should these books be as popular as they are?

Anyway, I read them and enjoyed them, which has got to count for something. But I didn't jump at the third book in the series when it came out in August 2007. But now my daughter is going through a new stage, and I need a book to read so that she can't come up and slam my laptop into my face yet again this week when I am trying to enjoy some free time. She is much less interested in my book, and, for the record, I can already see her making connections between my book and her books and her games that have letters, which is very cool.

So, I opened Eclipse and almost barfed. It is common for the first chapter in a series book to be trite and hard to swallow because the author has to word things funny to remind you what happen in the last book without boring the people who remember, but this was crazy bad. I think the line, "I'll pay you back if it takes 100,000 years" or something close to it was in there somewhere and I almost cried because I was actually excited to read, and I thought that line might be my limit of cheese for the day. But, hence, I persevered, and made it to the point where I am reading and smiling and laughing. But let me tell you: that Edward, sorry ladies, is not real. NOT REAL.

Just a few pages into my reading today, I totally picked a fight with my husband, and I bet if I could read into the depths of my little mind, it had something to do with how my man doesn't hold me, watch me sleep or smell my hair the way Edward does for Bella all day long (or ever).

Come on, ladies? We've got to admit. No one has a man like what... unless they read the bible. Last summer when I was reading a friend of mine pointed out that Edward, as a character is perfect (like Christ), and that many of our friends were using him as a substitute Savior figure to fill lulls in their spiritual lives ... the same why that Bella does with her personal life. Anyone who thinks the perfect actions of a romantic hero will make their troubles and pains go away is not of the right page. The whole concept of Bella and Edward is that he is the perfect lover. He has perfect love. No matter what she is or who she is, he will love her. That story is not new. It has been told... in the bible. (And since the Author is Mormon, like myself, I think it is more than far to make these comparisons.)

So it comes down to this. The writing is fine and entertaining but sometimes cheesy, and the main character is a substitute for what will really make the reader happy, which is selflessness, charity, pure love in there own lives and not in Edward and Bella's. How many people really put that book down and then think "I should be more like Edward?" I bet most people walk away from the book thinking "I deserve an Edward... so, dear, be more like Edward!" Maybe I'm just sensitive because I'm not very good at keep up on my spirituality AND my I an a band widow.

I might just stop reading the book in order to save my soul and come closer to the real God. Probably not, though, because in reality the book is pretty clean, and the alternative outlet for my relaxation is Grey's Anatomy, which could single handedly chop down the tree of life (a metaphor for eternal life.)

Your thoughts about the series? Please comment.

Count Von Count

A new love affair with the Count opens my eyes to the passions of life.

So, I never really watched Sesame Street as a kid. I was the third child in a home with few TV watching rules, so by the time I came around my siblings were watching Saved by the Bell and Charles In Charge and that was what I got (along with a scandalous dose of Three's Company). As for Sesame Street goes, I knew who the characters were, but that was about it.

But I started watching this classic show with my daughter a few months ago. It took me awhile to get the hang of it, but I basically love it. I cave to the masses with a love for Elmo, and in spite of criticism from some, I also love newer characters like Abby and the Mexican puppet.

But my very favorite character is the count -- formally known as Count Von Count. What little I knew about the Count as a kid reminded me of the grandfather on the Monsters TV show. Transylvania? Vanpires? Well, that has always been a little scary for me and generally out of my league. But after I started watching Sesame Street, it did not take long for me to fall in love with this purple puppet. And this is why:

The Count is -- beautifully and simply -- passionate and dedicated. He loves numbers and counting with all his soul, and he wants to share that love with everybody else. I can't think of a better example for my child or myself. My heart just sort of jumps every time he takes the screen because I can feel that love. He feels real to me ... in a puppet kind of way.

Cookie Monster is passionate, but it is in a glutenous, uncontrollable way. Oscar is passionate, but it is about sadness and trash. Ernie is passionate about his duck, but it is in a sort of weird way. But the Count is passionate is a really beautiful and simple way, and I love it. Of all the characters, whenever he says, "I am just so excited" (in his cute little accent) I totally believe him.

I hope that Quinn finds something in her life that she loves so much that it makes her giggle with happiness (other than a boy.) I hope she finds a passion she wants to share with the world. Something that makes her want to jump out of bed in the morning to get the day going.

Of course, since we're Mormon, I hope she feels that way about church and God and Jesus. But I hope she finds something else too on her road to church and God and Jesus ... and Harvard.

Anyway, Ode to the Count. I love you and your passion.


Check out the most modern version of the count at http://video.sesameworkshop.org/. Or check out this Youtube clip of the count counting on a game show.

Post Script: More Youtube.com research showed that the count was in fact much creepier when I was a kid, and he is probably the real reason I did not watch the show. The beginning sequences of his segments are all thunder and lightening and scary. Over the years this theme has mellowed out, and the Count's face has become rounder and more purple.