Really mesmerized. Its a ... beautiful ... movie. The Village by Shyamalan. (avoid all reviews as its a very easily spoiled movie) Yeah, yeah. I can hear you complaining now. "It was the most boring movie ever. All my friends hated it. I didn't see it, but the press was SO bad" And all those things are probably true. IF you were looking for a slasher-movie where they used fake-blood by the gallons. Its bound to be a dissapointment for those looking for the cheap thrill of things leaping out of the closet. Or hiding under the bed. There are no screams from the living-room when people watch this movie. No nervous giggling. No white knuckles. And yet you cannot look away.

The Village is an ... elegant ... movie. The scene that captured my attention was very early in the movie. The one where the creatures are coming and she will not lock the door against them because she thinks HE will also coming to ensure her safety. Filmed in profile, its extraordinarily ... graceful. No other word for it. The movements are so precise and smooth, just ... grace personified.

How many times have you heard THAT said about a horror movie!?!?

Peppermint Swirl White Fudge

1 (12 oz) package vanilla chips
1 can vanilla frosting
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
4 drops red food coloring
2 Tablespoons crushed peppermint candies

Line an 8-inch square pan with foil
Lightly butter the foil
Melt chips in a large sauce pan on low heart.
Remove from heat, stir in frosting and extract.
Spread in buttered pan.
Drop food coloring over the fudge.
Pull knife through mixture to marble design.
Sprinkle with crushed candy, pressing slightly
Refridgerate until firm, about 1 hour.
Cut into squares.
Makes 36 little pieces.

Hmmmmm. Now that I've written this recipe down, I have doubts. But, its was super-extra-yummy at the Christmas party last year. And the woman who gave it to me seems normal enough to not sabatage recipes she shares. We'll just have to see. This does sound like something the kids would love making!

Whoooooo-hooooooooo! Out of the blue my dear sweet husband announced "I hate our mattress. I think its why I have serious back problems now. I hate it. Lets get rid of it. I've thought about it. We can put it in the guest room. And then we'll get rid of that one."

I perked right up! He wants to kill a perfectly good pillow-top-extra-deep-king! Yay! Plans are progressing slowly for his surprise next Summer, a "surprise" party aka his family's first ever reunion! And one thing thats been bothering me is that we just tiled the floor in the rec-room which I'll be using as a bunk-room for the kids. I've been a little down thinking about how to get around a whole herd of kids sleeping on the cold hard tile floor.

Here's the answer!!!! I'll upholster the mattress and toss it on the floor in the corner. Which will also make it a greatly improved play-space for Katherine (the baby about to be a toddler). And I think that when we consolidate our house and the rental house and his parents excess furniture when they move to a smaller house, I could concievably end up with four twin mattresses too!

Now, if I can just think of a way to keep him from wondering why I need enough mattresses to carpet the room!

Yeah, you might not find this particularly interesting, but it makes ME really happy happy happy!

Which is where I was standing when someone told me, really, outloud and everything, like it was commonly accepted knowledge, that "We've decided a woman just can't handle that group. Boys need a man in charge! Women just can't control them!"

Think about that. The very-well-meaning-woman who told me that as justification as to why they thought I might be happier helping with the girls group. Because the week before, when I was absent, things went all to Hell-in-a-handbasket and the men barely kept control. Literally. TWO of them and it was all bitterness and chaos. ONE of me, and I've got all sixteen boys eating out of my hand. Quietly.

But that isn't the point. Different people have different skills. And "different" does not mean "bad".

Here's the point: Its assumed that because I'm a WOMAN that I have no CHILD skills. Think about the lunacy of that.

Here's another point: Its assumed that because the third graders are BOYS that they are DELINQUENTS that must be brow-beaten into submission because they lack the self-control and motivation to make the right choice to behave.

Because, you know, laying down a few sensible rules firmly like any good mother knows how to do, and then giving each boy the opportunity to be a "hero" would never work.

Did I end up in the girls group? No.
Am I planning a take-over? No.
Why not? God. Will. Deal. With. It.

Lots of the time, I don't hand over my little problems to God because I putter around with my own solutions and plans and stuff. It just doesn't seem worth bothering him over. Kind of the way I don't aggravate my husband to death with little problems. (Note to Husband: Really, I don't) Because when I tell him, he does something about it. Usually very firmly and definitively. God is like that too. There's no half-way about him. And this time? This time its important enough to me to do nothing. To just get out of the way and let God have at them.

Afterall, he knows their hearts. Its possible that they are not so much "horrid" as "misguided". That they confuse "nice" with "weak". That they are good men with bad attitudes. On the other hand ....

Its possible they are bullies. And if thats the case ... then whatever I could do to them is not near enough. The wrath of God is an awesome and terrible thing. Already I think I see it moving against people (not just for this particular incident, but there have been others)

So. I go along each week, being as good a follower as I can be. Trying to help. Trying to make things easier for everyone. Trying to get them to see each boy for who he is. Just trying.

Here's some tips:

Kmart is open Thanksgiving Day. What else do you have to do at 4:00am? Their ads are already leaked to my favorite Black Friday site.

Christian Book Distributor has really good Christmas CD's. For a $1. They used to have 25-for-$25 but this year they did away with that. Still, if you go to CD's and then click on the Christmas filter in the left side-bar and then resort by "ascending price" then the cheap but lovely CD's will come up first in the list. I'm not kidding. Some of them I would have paid "retail" for. They're almost cheaper than cards!

Toys-R-Us website was designed by slackers. Don't tell them. There are ... loopholes. Supposedly they don't sell gift-cards on-line. But, they do sell corporate gift card packages. Where they let you pick the number and amount you want. And, yes, you can pick "only 1 card" for "$10" and in spite of the note that tells you there's a minimum order of $250. This is a perfect case of the designer not communicating with the designer. And we all benefit. [Special thanks to my husband for teaching me that most computer programs have flaws if you bother to look for them. That might be a post later, on his general and specific brilliance]

Best Deal Magazines. Lots of "real" magazines for "free" plus a $4.69 handling fee. Go over today and sign up for their email. Around most holidays, even minor ones, they'll send you an e-coupon for 20% off. And once a week you'll get an email detailing that weeks "deal of the day" which is often a real deal.

I love a good soup. I especially love a good rich soup that has a dash of lemon juice to clean up the flavor. Paul over at The Finder Beware has a really rocking beefy-cabbagey soup. My husband likes it with ginger.

I'm thinking I might make okra soup today. I made some a few days ago and burned it :( Saute some onion, and celery, and maybe some bell pepper if they're on sale, in butter until the onion is soft. Add some canned tomatos and a lot of chopped okra (available frozen, but only use piece that have the seeds on both sides of the cut because the end pieces are tough and stringy). Then, 1/2 can of rotel. Simmer until the okra is thoroughly cooked. Its seriously yummy. And seriously healthy.

And Chicken Corn Chowder. Which is creamed corn (frozen not canned) and chicken broth and cream and chopped chicken and a few shreds of carrot, and a couple of cans of chopped green chilies. Suprisingly mild. Top with shredded cheddar and serve with cheese toast. Not top of the list for health or weight loss!

Yum. Chili. Yummy. Senate Bean Soup (involving sausage). Yum. Turkey -Rice-Cream soup. Yum. Brocalli -Chicken -Cheese soup. Yuuuuuuummmmmm.

*SIGH* Can you tell its cold and rainy here?

Anyway, I'm letting the kids watch wild-n-crazy British television. Have any of you ever seen the Upside Down Show? Its bizarrely simple and I'm realizing addictively funny. All four kids (ranging in ages from 1 to 9) are mesmerized. Simultaneously.

So, in order to clean out my purse, I need to archive some stuff. Namely a "talk" for Awanas from a few weeks ago that I gave to the group of third and fourth graders on prayer. Afterwards, one told me "You talk a lot, but thats ok because it was good". (Hopefully, the summary of my life). Here's the notes:

Imagine if your best friend couldn't talk. Imagine you're walking along, and he's with you, but wouldn't you kinda start ignoring him because he never says anything out loud?

That wouldn't feel very good to your best friend, would it? If you didn't talk to him?

God is kinda like that. Lots of people think he doesn't say anything because they don't understand that God talks through the Bible. He wrote down all the stuff we'll need to hear.

Its like a letter, straight to us from God. he loves us and wanted to make sure we knew stuff. he couldn't tell us everything in this world, so he told the really important stuff.

Sometimes its hard to believe we are so very extra important to him. But we are.

Just because we don't hear his voice the same as we hear each others doesn't mean he isn't communicating.

So. How can we communicate with God? How can we talk to him? We can pray!

There are some question we need to know about praying: Like What and Who and When and Where and How. Cause you may think you know how to pray, but are you sure? Do you know whate the Bible says about it?

So. Whta should we pray about? Whatever is in your heart. Some people say that God already knows everything so we don't need to tell him stuff. But think about it this way" Your parents and grandparents already know you love them, but they still like to hear it. It makes them feel good! God is like that oo -- He knows everything about us, but he still likes for us to tell him.

So we can pray to tell God all kings of things, and we can ask him all kinds of things.

This might be a good time to mention our policy that we don't take prayer requests about pets. Its that we have so very little time here that we can't get to everything and so we try to focus on human prayer requests. Fortunately, God isn't restricted like that and if something is important to you , He has time to listen. Always.

Here's an example of what one famous person asked of God:

Solomon was David's son. (Remember David from last week?) After King David died, when he was very old, his son Solomon became King.

It says in 1st Kings 3:3 and 3:5 "And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the footsteps of his father David ... At a place called Gieon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night and God said, Ask! What shall I give you?"

Think about that! God would have given him anything! ANYTHING he asked for!

What would YOU have asked for?

(Pause for answers to the question)

Well, here's what Solomon asked for. In 1st Kings3:9-10 is says "...please give me an understanding heart ... so that I can tell the difference between good and evil. This speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked for this thing."

God gave it to him. In fact, God was SO pleased that he gave Solomon everything else too! Money, power, long-life, victory over his enemies. All kinds of blessings!

But it all started when Solomon asked God to change his heart. Thats a good thing to pray for, and a powerful thing! God WILL change your heart, and help you to be a better Christian! That can be hard because change is hard, but its worth it!

Don't be confused into thinking that only important kings get to pray to God!

My thinking is that if God loves you enough to send Jesus to dies for you, then he loves you enough to listen when you talk to him.

Now, some kids might think "I'm only a kid! I'm too young to matter." But thats not what the Bible says!

1st Timothy 4:12 "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, conduct, in love, in spirite, in faith, in purity!"

That means not to be upset that you're young, because you're still an example of what a Christian is.

And if you're a good Christian example, you're certainly supposed to be praying.

When are we supposed to be praying?

1st Thessalonians 5:17 says "Pray without ceasing!"

Thats means all the time. But what exactly is "all the time"?

It might mean we're supposed to not ignore God like when I had you imagine at the beginning that you were ignoring your best friend.

It could mean that we're supposed to consider Godly actions all the time.

Some people only act like good Christians on Sundays, or at church BUT NOT when they go to school or to work or at the store or other places.

Christians aren't perfect, but this verse is about communicating with God all the time so we remember to TRY to be perfect all the time.

If you're praying or thinking about God, you're probably not going to be mean or do stuff that's wrong.

A lot of time we make mistakes and sin because we just aren't paying attention. Pryaing helps us pay attention so we don't end up ignoring God.

Lets talk about the "where" part of prayer.

When God talks to us, the Bible is here on Earth with us.

So when we talk to God, it makes sense that our prayers go to him in Heaven!

Consider Psalms 100:4 "Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise"

Thats a very kingly image, which is fitting sicne God is after all the King of Kings!

The gates might be the netrance to his holy city and the courts aren't like courts where people get sent to jail, but like "courts" which are huge rooms where kings sit on their thrones!

Isn't it amazing that our prayers go right up to his very throne!?!

SO! We know what, who, when, where. That just leaves HOW.

Like I sai before, God put all our important instructions in the Bible and sure enough it has a section on How To Pray.

Jesus'followers one day just asked him! How do we Pray.

Jeses followers one day just asked him! How do we Pray?And he answered them in Matt 6:9-13

Our Father in Heaven
Hallowed by your name
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive our debtors
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever! Amen.

Lets talk about the details. What exactly is this saying? How do we fit our lives into those words?

Take the first part: "Our father in Heaven". Its clear who we're talking to, an that we love him like he's a good father.

"Hallowed be your anme" makes it clear that we understand even his very name is holy.

"Your kingdom come, your will be done" is acknowledgin that God's will is more important than ours. Really, he knows WAY more than us. It is SO crazy to think our will (which is another way of saying what we want) is better than what God plans!

But sometimes when we're ignoring God, we kinda forget that and just wander along doing whatever we please.

This verse is like asking God to help us remember to do what HE wants us to do.

'On Earth as it in in Heaven" points out that God is everywhere and poweful everywhere.

"Give us this day our daily bread" This is about God taking care of our physical need.

"And forgive us our bets as we forgive our debtors" This is about God taking care of our spiritual needs.

"Do not lead us into temptaion" is about protecting us from ourselves. In other words, help us to be better Christians.

And "Deliver us from the evil one" is about protecting us from the Devil.

"For yours is the Kingdom and the POwer and the GLory forever! Amen" is pretty much saying that we believe he has the authority and ability to do all those previous things!

Lets Review HOW

1) We love Him
2) We understand He's holy
3) We know HIs will is better
4) He's everywhere and all powerful
5) He can take care of our physical needs
6) He can take care of our spiritual needs
7) He can help us make better decisions
8) He can protect us from the Devil
9) W have faith in his ability and goodness

Lets talk about this: What if we pray wrong? What if we don't get all the words right?

The Bible says this in 1st Samuel 16:7 "For the Lord does not see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart"

He knows whats in our hearts and he knows when we're sincere. "Sincere" in another way of saying we really mean it instead of just saying the right words but thinking something else.

One more thing: God will ALWAYS answer our prays. The answer just might be "no." I don't understand, because I'm not God.

Some things make no sense to me. I don't understand stuff, like why bad things happen to good people. Or why some people get miracles and others don't.

That's where faith comes in. Sometimes, you're going to have doubt. That's OK. The faith part is about giving God the benefit of the doubt.

Being able to pray to God, "I don't understand, but I believe you ...

Love me like a good father and
You are good and holy and
You know more than me and
You're everywhere and
You can take care of stuff and
You can protect me and
You are still powerful and good.
Amen

Sound familiar?

Now, we all know I'm not a mathmatician. I've got degrees in History, Economics, Religion. Not fields of study that involve lots of math. Sure, I can balance my checkbook. Yes, I can calculate "percentage off" for sales events. No, I can't do statistics. No, I didn't pass Accounting101 on my merits (I did what any girl would do: begged, almost-cried, promised to never ever do any accounting as long as I lived. I really really wanted to graduate)

[I don't know how I got the child I did. One of mine, the one that struggles verbally is learning his multiplication tables. Kind of. Without memory work. Apparently, as Ron (my eight year old) explained to me yesterday, 9 times y = (10 times y) -y. I hope I wrote that right, because it made sense when he explained it to me. And the fives are easy because (5 times y) = (10 times y/2) He couldn't write them like that, but I was amazed that he even saw the realtionships, and was using those relationships to make his life easier! We're SO switching to Singapore math next rotation!]

Back to Fat People. First, lets talk about BiggestLoser. For those of you that don't know, BiggestLoser is basically "Survivor For Fat People". So at their last vote-off-eliminate-a-teammate time, the Blue team voted off the lightest weighted member of the team. Because she was pulling slightly lower numbers (but not significantly lower) than the rest of the team. Who were all really huge fat guys. Which would have made sense. Except that its based on PERCENTAGE of weight lost, not total. By eliminating her, they SERIOUSLY handicapped their team. And didn't even realize what they had done until her cranky little soul explained it to them before she left. Admittedly the look on their faces was priceless when it dawned on them.

Second, lets talk about The Surgery. You know, stomach by-pass. I've decided that when friends tell me they're seriously considering The Surgery, its a cry for help. The side-effects are bad. REALLY bad. Really so extra-bad that they'd give me nightmares if I thought about them much. So bad that I can't believe four FOUR! four friends are truly considering The Surgery. Ok., now, you might be thinking "I understand that they're probably suicidal and self-destructive and desperate, but what does that have to do with math?"

THIS is what it has to do with math! The Surgery is expensive. I think its about $50,000. Which your insurance will not cover. Hmmm. Can you think of less-expensive ways to lose weight? Not to mention, ways that don't involve the possibility of you vomiting your own feces? First off, there's Bulimia. Not saying its the best option, but its free and manages to be less gross. It should scare you that Bulimia would be better than the Surgery. Or even Anorexia. Second, there's the bodyguard. For $25,000 , which is half the price of the surgery, I could hire a bodyguard to stay between me and food until I developed some control or lost 100 pounds. Third, for $25,000 I could take a medical leave of absense from work for six months and work out eight hours a day. I bet I'd lose tons! Fourth, I could check into a ... facility. You know, like drug rehab except for fat.

When I was in the middle of this rant at my husband last week, who was listening with The Look (slightly uninterested but focused enough to make the appropriate sound at the appropriate time), he suddenly sparked and snapped to attention! "Have you picked one?" he asked curiously when I paused for breath. "Picked a what?" I muttered distractedly, already composing Part Two of the rant in my mind. "A fat-farm!" I looked at him blankly. He looked just like a little boy on Christmas morning who has recieved a shiney new red bicycle, possibilities running rampan in his mind! Hmmmmm.

I lost six pounds this week.

It would seem that I have hit the jackpot! That post on statistics (which I don't actually trust but which my techie-husband swears by) has yielded an unexpected treat! Two lurkers have commented. Now, they never ever have to comment again although they are very certainly extra-welcome here. The important thing is that they've sent up a flare to let me know where they are. A blessing!

Some days I wish there were more somethings new to read that I don't have to search and search for. I'm lazy that way. I want my treats, and I want them on a silver platter right then that minute. So, new bloggy-goodness delivered to my screen is wonderful! Oh yes, there is definitely lots of bloggy-goodness.

Kathi has a beautiful set of blogs. The one she chose to let us see is A Day In The Life. All pretty, and even interesting! VERY interesting. Some people blog about getting a new puppy, but she can blog about getting two children! And they're nice too, and her husband looks nice. Everyone looks nice. But not dull or boring. She's a great writer! I could almost feel her desperation when she quit smoking and I don't even smoke! And how can you not love a blogger that used a picture of her kitty-cat doing a handstand for her portrait!?! I think its a keeper.

Suzanne has got the best blog title ever, well, at least since Testosterhome! Blessed Among Men. Can you guess she's got boys? Lots of boys? Five. Plus a husband. You've just got to go take a look. She's got photo's up right now and the second one down shows all five boys. Wrinkle free. With good hair. And wonderful eeriely similiar smiles. But envision what the small boys wanted her to do. She wrote in a post to her husband on his birthday : "The boys wanted to get you a chainsaw, but I got you dress-shoes. I hope you're not disappointed" LOL! It almost ALMOST-BUT-NOT-EXACTLY made me think five might be good. This one looks like a keeper too.

Yes, I know I'm being all pscho-careful about adding people to my links. Its not them, its me. Decisions like this fall under the waiting-period for spontaneous activity. Which my husband implimented after an unfortunate haircut that left him speechless. So, unless they turn out to be hostile and/or crazy in the next 14 days, looks like we'll be getting new and exciting links! Yay!

Some blogs are seriously informative and educational about current events. And technology. Some blogs are cutting edge and critical. Dissecting theories and (possibly trolls) in their frantic quest for readers. Some blogs are philosohical. Some blogs are sarcastic and clever. Some embrace and celebrate over-achieving like its an Olypmic sport. Some just whine. Incessently. Some archive deep thoughts.

My blog? It does ... nothing. No real particularly essential purpose. No one will ever check in here to see the latest developements on ... anything. No one will ever desperately need to log-in to check on ... anything. No political coverage. No earth-shattering society-leveling tell-all pieces.

But, in spite of all that nothingness, my blog is useful. For its very uselessness. Fun. Festive. Pretty. No real pressure. No real animosity. No real drama. A break from cranky reality. Just like sprinkles!

In "real" life I use a lot of Sprinkles. I buy the big tub-o-sprinkles because its cost-effective and then I figure if you have them you should use them! They're really good on waffles and whipped cream. And chocolate-dipped anythings. And carrot-cake. (I draw the line at mashed potatoes)

I like to cook. I especially like to cook things that people like to eat. Have you ever seen the look on children's faces when they see sprinkles? For that matter, have you ever seen the look on adults faces when they realize they actually get the sprinkles too? Most of them exhibit a little guilt, like they shouldn't take that much unbridled joy in sprinkles. Furtively looking around to see if they're about to be set upon by crazed children deprived of sprinkles, or maybe sophisticated fashionistas wearing DonnaKaren and beige lipstick. (Which is also how I think men and engineers feel when they read this site :)

Sprinkles have changed my life. The theory of "why NOT use the sprinkles?" has transferred over into my real life as "why NOT be happy?" Neither one really changes the reality. But it makes a big difference in the perception of reality. Maybe I should take the next scary step. Maybe I SHOULD put sprinkles on the mashed potatoes.

(1) The pet-stroller. Like a stroller for babies, but designed with a pet-friendly shape so they have a comfortable seat while their owners push them around. Because, you know, dogs can't walk.

(2) Every single Red-Hat-Purple-Wearing-Lady assessory. People! You DO know the poem is about independence and freedom from social conformity, right? RIGHT? This side of the Army, is there anything more formally conformist than a group of ladies at a tea-party in mandatory color-cordinated hats? Yes, I know its a great poem. With a great message. Embrace the message! Eschew literalism! Wear green-n-yellow!

(3a) Stretch jeans in size 6x. What!?! Who WHO thought THAT was a good idea? Unless you are a size 2 and a rodeo queen, you have no business wearing "stretch jeans". Perhaps you might think I'm going out of my way to insult those of you who practically live in your stretch jeans. No. I care about you. I care enough to tell you to STOP IT!

(3b) If the artical of clothing looks weird and unattractive on the model, what makes them think we'll be fooled into thinking "Oh! I'm way more attractive than a model! I bet I could make that work!"

(4) The remote controlled "Farting Teddy-bear". Need I say more? Ick. Except, this is a good segque for ...

(5) Pooping decorations. You know the ones I mean. It looks like a normal tabletop figurine. Until you push its head and jelly-beans drop out of its bottom! Yes, I like candy. Yes, I like cute reindeer figurines as much as the next girl. No, I do NOT want to eat faked reindeer poop even if its really jelly-beans. I just don't. Its just plain wrong.

More than three! Yay for me!

The important part of this story is not that I have statistics, but that he is right. Again. I don't know WHY I ever argue with him :)

Yes, I know its tempting to tar everyone on the "other side" with the same brush as their worst examples. Drawing the line between "us" and "them" makes it easier to justify our own position. But, that way lies madness. And hate. And defeat. Not only is it INCORRECT to assume that all liberals or all conservatives are stupid idiots, its foolish and damaging to our goals.

We need to recognize that many liberals and many conservatives SHARE the same goals. We want the SAME things, we just have different ideas about the best way to accomplish our objectives. It is possible for BOTH liberals and conservatives to be nice smart patriotic people.

I suppose where we get lost is by dividing ourselves with issues (differences) so emphatically that we find it almost impossible to unite ourselves with goals (similarities). It seems more and more often, dedication to issues supercedes our duty and responsibility to each other as Americans. And, yes, we DO have a duty to each other as Americans. THAT is where the line of "us vs. them" should be drawn.

Its one thing to think that the war in Iraq was a bad idea, and that we need more government programs, and to support homosexual marriage, etc. and an entirely DIFFERENT thing to be glad that America is suffering (terrorist attacks, war, natural disaster, etc). THOSE people are the enemy. The ones that hate America. They might be masquerading as liberals, or as conservatives, but that simple litmus test will out them. Are they glad when America suffers? Or when representatives of America suffer? Or when our flag is burned? Are they fundamentally ashamed to be American (which is different than being ashamed by some of our actions)? Do they hate America?

The ones that we should tar and feather aren't liberals or conservatives. They're the ones that hate America. We need to get our thoughts straight. They will try to divide us, into liberals and conservatives. We must not allow that. We are not just liberals and conservative, WE are Americans. We need to remember that.

And I've always been amused at those that see blue as a "weak" color. Cold and passionless, depressed, quiet, gloomy, sedate.

It strikes me that blue is the feeling in the eye of a storm. And, yes, for those that doubt, I've been in the eye of a hurricane. While red is excitement cheerfully uncontrolled, blue is excitement so extremely focused as to be dangerous. Like flames. Red flames are warm and welcoming, like glowing embers and hot-cider. Blue flames are a step beyond. Blue flames have purpose and focus and control.

I've always thought that lasers should be blue instead of red. Lo and behold, some university has developed a water (blue) "laser" that can cut through stone like butter, with stunningly unheard of precision. Ultimate control.

And I laughed when I heard the phrase "with great power comes great responsiility" because navy (which is extra-blue) has always seemed like a Responsible color. Unlike brown, which is Practicality stripped of the power to do anything especially great.

I love it when the sky is navy, right before true dark. Blue is walking the edge without slipping over into the Dark Side of black. Wielding powers for good, not evil, but definitely grasping the power (yep, the boys finally watched Star Wars)

Red is freedom and whimsy and fireworks, an uproarious laugh, what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of a color. An honest true color. Blue is a quiet reserved smile, none-the-less real for its sublteness. A passion belied by coolness, a friendliness undercut by reserve there to protect those very friends. Blue is a deceptive color, so cool and serene and easy yet so ...

Red is action, Blue is patient. Revenge is a dish best served cold, yet all could agree that revenge is passion. (This is NOT to say that I endorse revenge in any way ever. Now. Which leads me to think about a song I heard this week called "Some People Change" Its a really good song)

I love Blue. To me its strength and survival. Dynamite controlled. Triumph. Sanctuary. My mother doesn't like blue. She likes green. Or, well, any color that isn't blue.

Maybe it just comes down to this: I have blue eyes and nothing rhymes with orange :)