I enjoy the writings of author (and Catholic priest/lecturer/professor) Ron Rohlheiser. I was feeling quite conflicted the other dayafter reading about various people in the entertainment industry. Thankfully his most recent article reassured me (excerpted below.)

Without naming names, there are people (or more specifically, certain young women)  who have such talents, intelligence, great personal style, and yet at times they resort to such crudeness and vulgarity when expressing themselves publicly about various topics. In large part, this is why I eschew Hollyweird and related industires in their entirety. And yet, I love pop culture so much, often its hard to look away.

Although I am strong in my faith and worship, I am far from what anyone would dub a "Church lady." I embrace an eclectic variety of subcultures, styles, aesthetics and points-of-view. What is difficult for me, is that a certain crowd looks at me suspiciously because I am a Christian; others don't feel I am Christian enough.  I do know that I personally never judge someone in a condemning way (except in snarky light-hearted comments, of course!) Rather, if someone's  "edgyness" is too much for me, I just move on. I am grateful to Ron for articulating some of these ideas here - you can read more at http://www.ronrolheiser.com

Of Artists, Freedom, Reticence, and Sanctity

2008-02-24

Nobel Prize winning novelist, Doris Lessing, once suggested that George Eliot could have been a better writer if she hadn't been so moral. That highlights a painful and interesting paradox. Sometimes depth and sensitivity are in tension with creativity and freedom.

When I was child, our Catholic catechism told us that after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit "their minds were darkened." But that isn't exactly what scripture says. It tells us rather that "their eyes were opened." Lessing's comment highlights what is at stake here...

Artists are often characterized by their freedom, their willingness to push edges, break taboos, and feel themselves free from the psychological and moral restraints that hold the rest of us. But that is only half of the picture. In another area, aesthetics, where their sensitivities are the most keen, they are anything but free. In their own way, artists are also very uptight. For example, a true artist is incapable of defacing a beautiful artefact and feels hurt when someone else, in callousness, destroys something beautiful. A real artist would be congenitally incapable of drawing a moustache on the Mona Lisa, even while someone less sensitive could do this casually, thoughtlessly, and perhaps even as joke. Sensitivity can make you uptight in a healthy way, just as lack of it can make you free in an unhealthy way...

...There is a moral artist and a saint inside each of us too and, whether we are awake to that or not, sometimes it can make us feel wonderfully free and sometimes it can make us feel like we are the most uptight persons in the whole world.

I'm on a total Philly kick (which is morphing into a "why-I-don't-live-in-Philly" kick...) with my entries so I thought I'd keep this train wreck stumbling forward.

My brother-in-law works at a Philadelphia TV network affiliate station. His wife, my sister, sent me this clip of a competitor station who had the wise-acre idea to air their own home-grown morning talk show with sub-par on-air talent.

Many local stations have similar offerings these days. In fact, back in the 70's and 80's Philly had some interesting shows, including "Dialing For Dollars" with the late, great Jim O'Brien. I'll have to expound on the Local Talk Show Theme in a future post.

On one level, I can sympathize with the blushing Lori Wilson, because naivete isn't a malevolent quality; but in this case, it's a hilarious one!

The scene: the show hosts are talking about mis-heard lyrics. Unfortunately for Lori, some dopey producer typed-up a viewer comment that should not have been aired:

While searching for my beloved IDEAL jingle, I came across yet another iconic series of retro-Philadelphia tv commercials. These are beyond precious for the use of South Philly skanks, er,  ladies of all shapes, sizes, and hair-dye brands as "spokemodels" for a pseudo-swanky men's clothing store.

Check out the gal in the yellow dress on the right - BABY GOT BACK!!! "hot damn!"






Mmm,  now they are in bikinis...




Look at the COIFFURES!!!Better yet, check out the tipsy blonde, second from the left.

Since the title of my blog is Philly Expatriate, I think its about time I do a bit of reminiscing, Delaware Valley-style!

As a kid,  prior to cable television, the few children's shows besides Captain Kangaroo and Sesame Street appeared on UHF stations. These same stations also broadcast a large portion of their commercials for local businesses.

One shop, based in South Jersey, not far from Atlantic City, ran an iconic commercial with an absolutely unforgettable jingle. It was for IDEAL - at the time, a discount clothing store for women that was housed in (no joke) a Quonset Hut! I wish someone would post the actual film/video that accompanies the jingle, because in the haze of my memory, I recall rather glamourous-looking models hauling down the road in rather large tail-finned automobiles, presumably on their way to shop for polyester pants suits in the tent-store.

It's not a fancy salon - its nothing but a Quonset hut - but!
If you've got a passion for fashion, and you've got a craving for saving,
Take the wheel of your automobile and swing on down to...IDEAL!


While you listen to the jingle you can read more on the topic of Ideal.

As per usual with my luck these days, my "day of relaxation" was not particularly relaxing.

First off, apparently the coffee, guarana, green tea and kola nut in my body wrap yesterday injected enough caffeine into my system that I slept horribly last night. (But, on the positive side, my thights DID look much firmer!)

Then I dragged my overly-tired arse to yoga this morning and could barely do half of the "exercises" the Yogi had in mind for us today. We were ALL moaning and groaning doing these torturous "toning' exercises for stomach and hips...not a "namaste" feeling radiating from me after that!

Finally, I went for my facial at the spa, and began to explain to the technician that my skin was uncharacteristically dry and chapped in areas - a combo of wind burn/cold dry air, and over-use of benzoil-peroxide-based products for breakout prevention. She would no sooner apply a product - even if it was labeled for "sensistive skin" - and it would begin to burn into my skin like some sort of etching acid! Yeow! She kept trying a product then resort to wiping it off when it would burn. So I left the spa with little improvement in the appearance and texture of my skin. At least the arm/should/neck massage was successful.

...because tomorrow I'm partaking of my THIRD spa treatment THIS WEEK.

Well, I justify such (relative) extragance this way:

1.) It has been one of the most brutal Chicagoland winters in recent memory, in terms of amount/frequency of snow. And if its not snowing, then temps are usually hovering in the single-digits - teens if we are lucky. Last week I wrecked my back and arse twice shovelling heavy, slushy snow. THIS weekend I fell three times on the ice slick also known as our driveway. I am just plain old BEAT UP at this point!

2.) My spousal unit neglected to celebrate St. Valentine's Day by purchasing an extravagant Day At The Spa for his wife...so I'm buying it for him/me...just one-day-at-a-time.

3.) We got our tax refund. THANK HEAVEN for electronic filing and direct deposit!

My green coffee body wrap was so wonderful today. I had never been to this particular spa/salon, even though I have walked past it in my hometown many times. I am certainly glad I indulged today, because they have a lovely facility, reasonable prices, and one of the more extensive treatment menus that I've seen.

Tomorrow is most likely the oxygenating facial which is supposed to "brighten" the face, although that Aveda Elemental Nature Facial for Self Renewalsounds pretty damn awesome, too...

This Lent, I am all about "detox" - both physically and mentally. As I mentioned before, I gave up coffee and have really not indulged much in wine. I also need to cut WAY back on sweets, which has been tough since my daughter's Brownie troop just delivered all their cookie orders (and of course we bought some of those delicious caloric time bombs...)

Tomorrow I am scheduled for an herbal detox wrap at a local spa. I've been looking for one that used ingredients besides seaweed, because  I am wary about indulging in  idodine-based products since I have a shellfish allergy. I found an intriguing wrap that is reasonably priced and penciled my appointment into my calendar.

However, now I am wondering:

Is it considered "cheating" on my Lenten de-caffeination if I undergo a Green Coffee Body Wrap?

Last week I began a Monday morning scripture class through my church.

Hey - you there, stop shaking your head! YES Catholics DO read the Bible! So now you know!

Anyway...

The class is lead by the young and energetic Father Steve and (not to denounce any "other" Bible studies) it really has the feel of a college-level literature class. Althought the study guides have the stamp of approval from the Church, they really delve into aspects of the particular verses including literary style, imagery, linguistics, art/cultural references, historical setting and more. My point is that this study is less about indoctrination and more about learning the specifics of one book and how it ties in with our understanding of other messages and imagery (and overall theology(ies) ) we have learned through the years in the other books. We are studying the Book of Wisdom and are learning of the tie-ins the author uses that meld both Greek and Hebrew culture of its era.

Since it is Presidents' Day, I will be taking my daughter along to class; she's bringing her own books - likely a new "American Girl" novel and a "My Weird School" installment to keep her occupied.

After class, we head to a neighboring 'burb to indulge in Mom & Daughter PEDICURES at a spa that has services for children (and is also reasonable priced). We have appointments, so I don't forsee a huge mob scene on this non-school day. After our Spa treat, we will go out to lunch, although it's currently a toss-up between crapple, er, APPLEBEE'S and Red Robin. After the announcement of the huge beef recall, though, I'm inclined to shy away from a burger-specialty place.

Later this afternoon, I take her to her Yoga Kids class, which she has been enjoying immensely. Kids don't seem to have the same hangups about chanting OM at the end of their sessions the way some of us suburbanite ladies do!

So today is a Mom-Daughter-Mind-Body-Spirit day...So Our Father, Om Shanti and all that good stuff...

Friday mornings, I usually manage to pry my arse away from the wonderful world of the internet in order to make my rounds as a Eucharistic Minister to homebound senior citizens.

Yesterday, as I was about to leave, I noticed that...my car was gone! But then I looked around and noticed hubby's car was in the driveway. I made a quick call to his office and learned that he apparently intented to telepathically inform me that he needed an oil change and could I take his car in to the Jiffy Lube?

Grr. I was in NO mood. I only had enough patience and goodwill in my emotional arsenal yesterday to cover Ministering, NOT to include errands in the Chevy-I-Hate-To-Drive-Because-It-Handles-Really-Strangely.

"Agh. I'll just take the van," I noted to him, and hung up.

I first headed to church to get some blessed host from the tabernacle (which, mind you, is under lock and key...I have to go through a  PROCEDURE in order to procure the wafers.)Then I drive to the home of whomever is on my visit schedule. As I was turning right onto a busier 4-lane street, some goofy macho jerk in a snowplow barrels down the road, and looks like he's going to run right into me. I step on the gas and get the Rockin' Van hauling its blue shiny self down the boulevard...only to spy a cop hiding on a side street as I pass by. He turns onto the street, behind me,and after some hesitation, puts on his flashers. D*MN!!!!

This is the SECOND time I have gotten a speeding ticket while having Communion as my passenger!!! Needless to say, I became even grumpier, now that I'd be flushing $115 down the drain to keep it off my record.

What is is about  Jesus, me and the gas pedal that keeps getting me in trouble?

On Monday, I was grocery shopping and saw this in the lot and had to snap a pic with my cameraphone.




I giggled in large part because this vanity tag was on a freakin' ESCALADE! I wonder what the Magi in a pimped-out V-8 ride would have brought to the baby King? I wonder if THEY would have gotten a ticket as they sped home, away from Herod, across the desert.

Living in the Chicago area, the news of the tragic events yesterday at Northern Illinois University are inescapable.

Since giving up coffee for Lent, I HAD been sleeping beautifully but last night, my slumber was fitful.

I thought about how difficult it must be for a parent to send a child away to school,  AS IS...and these days, those parent-child milestones are compounded by the reality that random acts of violence and terrorism occur far too often in our communities.

 When I was in college, a deranged woman attempted to poision and otherwise cause harm to a number of students on my campus before she walked into a local grade school and opened fire, shooting and killing a young child ad wounding others. Prior to that, when I was in high school, I had asked my mom for a ride to the mall. Fortunately for me, she stated that she had too much work to do preparing the house and my sisters' cosutmes for Halloween. That afternoon, another deranged woman walked into the mall and randomly shot and killed a number of innocent shoppers, one of whom was the obstetrician that delivered me as a baby!

Related to those thoughts, yesterday in the mail, I received a Girl Scout camp catalogue that I requested from our council office. My daughter and I went through the offerings together and she selected a 3-day, 2-night overnight camp expereince that she'd like to try this summer. I am wholly supportive of her learning and expressing independence, and to have the opportunity to camp with girls her age from all over our region. I just don't know how I'll manage on the drive there or for the following days.  I think it will be the longest three days I've ever lived.