Darkness...

Sometimes, there are no words for what happens in life. In those days, the only appropriate words are "I'm sorry" and "what can I do." Even then, they're still not enough.

What's old is new again...

So, about last week's election...hmmm, no fun talking about that.

My girls had to clean out the attic last week and this week, I rummaged through the attic looking for clothes to recycle down from one child to another. My oldest child never participates in the annual ritual because she is at the top of the pile - a position she relished until she realized she had to purchase her own clothes.

I remember having to try on hand-me downs - my mother accepted clothes from everyone! For every one piece of clothing that showed marginal promise, there were 200 pieces that shouldn't have been privileged to see the light of day. There was nothing like being forced to keep clothes just because they were long enough in the legs or loose enough across the shoulders. Forget the fact that those clothes looked like styles from the 70's, Bellbottoms! I can't go to school in polyester! Embroidery? You want me to step out of the house in embroidered jeans?

My kids' closets look like the clothes I rejected 20 years ago. It's more than ironic, it's hysterical because I buy the clothes - except for the oldest girl's - she's on her own...but not at Christmas, I'll buy her clothes at Christmas.

The scripture (yes, this saying is from the Bible)"Nothing is new under the sun" can apply to so many things in life. The record losses in jobs and the steep dive of the stock market - rampant social upheaval and the rage against the institution. Like bellbottoms, it's happened before, it's happening now and chances are, it will happen again...

Things they are a changin'

I think I am going to refrain from watching the news this week - just for kicks. It seems that my mood is susceptible to the fluctuations of the stock market. If the market is up at 12noon, then I smile, if the market dives 350 points just before the closing bell, I feel a little worry in my heart. Seriously, what the heck?

Since when did the stock market gain such power in our lives? It just doesn't make any sense! Not only is it just one indicator among hundreds of indicators, but there's nothing I can do about it and so, why should I allow it to have any more influence on my life than it already does. Now, news stations have stock market boxes in the corner so our moods can go up and down with the unpredictable swings.

It's time to use my time in front of the talk-tube in a more useful manner or for that manner, turn it off. What am I really missing? If the world is going to implode, chances are, I'll find out without watch ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, CNN, etc telling me about the 1000 ways our world is coming to an end. I already know that story and its drastically different than what they're telling everyone else.

So, tomorrow through Friday, no more tv news. Not sure what that means for me at the gym, I guess I'll be watching more HGTV. Instead of watching the news, I think I'm going to spend that time praying to the One who actually knows and can do something about what's going on. What a novel thought...

I'm out.

The Art of Being Funny...

Tonight, I got to do stand-up comedy. It was my second shot at this dangerous little art form this year. I did it once in February and since no one threw anything at the stage, it was an easy "yes" when the invitation for tonight's gathering came in a few months ago.

For the past month, I've been trying out new bits...bits is the fancy comedy term for the little stories comedians (or in my case, comediennes) tell.

Being funny isn't easy. Matter of fact, no one really wants to brag about the fact that they are funny. "Yeah, I know how to crack 'em up..." It seems that one of the most important qualifications of being a comedienne is the fact that you aren't sure if you are funny or not. It's something you aren't sure of until the audience actually laughs...

It seems that comedy is the most honest form of communication out there. You can tell when someone is laughing and when someone is just humoring you by doing that fake "I'm going laugh so you don't feel like a loser" laugh. In comedy, there's no wondering if you are funny, the audience is always honest. If they don't laugh, you know what's up.

So, as I have been working on my bits, there's that nagging chatter in the back of my brain about what it will take to make them laugh. I realized early on that people won't laugh if I talk about what I think is funny, but they will laugh if I talk about things they are afraid of or won't talk about themselves.

For instance, why will a woman buy a shirt on clearance for $3.99 even though it is two sizes too small? It's like we can't pass up a bargain, even though it isn't right for us - we buy it anyways. Or, why do we bring the wrong size clothes in to the dressing room. For some reason, we can't bring ourselves to select the size we know we wear, we tend to sandwich ourselves into the size that we wore five years ago when we were 20 lbs thinner.

Women don't like talking about that stuff, but they will listen and laugh to someone else talking about it.

I like doing comedy. It's a challenge and I feel kinda like I'm skydiving when I do stand-up. I'm not sure how I'm going to land - I might even splat, but I do enjoy the journey in between.

I'm done.