Archive for June, 2007
Paris Hilton ready to start making a difference
Finally. Positive news about Paris. Or better said, Paris making positive news. I’ll be rooting for her continued growth.
Paris Hilton: Foxhole Enlightenment?
I totally understand why the Paris Hilton saga has caught our attention — it serves as a lightning rod for everything that bugs us about the so-called privileged rich. Reading the wide range of opinions about Paris, her family and the justice system in media stories and blog posts is really interesting.
My opinion? It depends on which part is doing the talking. One part of me believes Paris is paying the price for breaking the law. Sorry, honey, no exceptions. Another part feels compassion for a suffering human being. Another part says in the long run this experience will be a good thing for her. She (and her mother!) needed a wake-up call.
It appears that Paris is feeling the kind of pain that only gettin’ religion and enlightenment can help. Her preparation for jail included praying, toting around the Bible, and reading faith-based and positive-thinking books including The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment and The Secret. In an interview with the New York Post, she said, “I’m a very, very spiritual person.”
Perhaps Paris is experiencing a dark night of the soul and she’ll come out a changed (for the better) woman. Or perhaps she’s doing that temporary foxhole-conversion thing. Time will tell. The saga continues…
Pushing the envelope?
This morning at 6:00 in Phoenix was beautiful. I sat outside with my cup of coffee, enjoying the cool breeze and watching my “baby” — a wild bunny — munch on the grass.
I love the wildlife here (except for scorpions). I get such a kick out of seeing dozens of tiny quail chicks racing across the yard like miniature firemen rushing to a blaze. And last week my husband startled a bobcat that was poking around in our courtyard. If it weren’t for the birds, bees, butterflies, rabbits, bunnies, bobcats and other assorted living things, life here in the desert wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable.
The air was too deliciously cool to keep outside, so I opened a window in our bedroom. Around 7:10 I was surprised to see our pool servicer. He has never come that early. So, standing next to the open window, I call out to my husband, “Hey, the pool guy is here! That’s weird.”
Instantly I clasped my hand over my mouth in chagrin. My husband starts laughing and says, “Way to go, hon.”
But why that reaction? I hadn’t said anything wrong. I was just stating, perhaps clumsily, that it wasn’t usual for the pool guy to be in our backyard that early in the morning. I guess I was afraid that my comment could cause a problem. Like what?
Like, maybe now he realizes that we weren’t expecting him, and what if he had caught us doing early-morning skinny dipping, and now he feels bad and will never come into our yard again? I don’t know. It’s just funny how we have all kinds of instant reactions like that. For all I know, he didn’t hear me, or if he did, what I said went in one ear and out the other.
Taking further advantage of the cool temperature, I decided to go on my morning walk earlier. I do some of my best thinking and reminiscing while I walk. I thought back to times as a child when I said whatever came to mind. (All kids do that, right?) In one scene, a man was painting a house on our street. Several of us neighborhood kids stood around watching him.
Being curious, I started peppering him with questions. “What is your name?” “Where do you live?” “Do you have any kids?” “What are their names?” I discovered that his daughter was in my grade and that a few years earlier I’d lived fairly close to their house. But to be absolutely sure, I asked, “Is your wife that big fat lady?”
“Yep,” he replied without hesitation.
I’d like to think he wasn’t a bit offended. But my friends were shocked. “Hey! You can’t say things like that!” they scolded.
Fast-forward several years to me working for the editorial arm of a church organization. During a staff meeting, I learned about a new policy that I was sure our organization’s leader wouldn’t like if he knew about it. I couldn’t understand why no one was speaking up. So, with a tone of indignation, I rose from my chair and asked, “Does Mr. _____ know about this?!”
The room fell silent. With all eyes on me, I sat down and tried not to look as mortified as I felt. After the meeting, my boss called me into his office and, well, gave me a talkin’ to.
Experiences like that make you want to keep your mouth shut, know what I mean?
But I’m still the same. Curious. Investigative. Noticing incongruity. Knowing when things aren’t right. Desiring a perfect world. Wanting oh so badly to speak up.
Unless you talk to my husband, I have learned to bite my tongue and be much more tactful in my communication. Sometimes I wish I could be like other bloggers and just let ‘er rip and not care. But then I start worrying about being sued, hurting feelings, being misunderstood, feeling exposed. Sometimes blogging is pushing the envelope for me. I hope it’s worth it.
An aside: I love the Sonic commercial where the couple teases about “pushing the envelope.” One day my husband asked me if I knew where that saying came from. Hmmm, hadn’t thought about it. Does it have something to do with stuffing a whole bunch of papers in an envelope? Or pushing an envelope to the edge of the table? I was stumped. The answer is pretty interesting.
Another inconvenient truth
It’s hot here in Phoenix, and it’s going to get hotter. But no biggie. As long as the air conditioners work and we don’t have brownouts, we’ll be fine. Dontcha just luuuuv electricity? And so many of the modern conveniences that enhance and prolong our lives?
I just watched an interesting documentary about global warming. Ironically, those whose careers and livelihoods depend on promoting the theory of man-made global warming will find this film an inconvenient truth. Watch it when you have an hour and 13 minutes to spare and see what you think. I’ve been on the fence about this issue, but not anymore. That said, I still believe we’re doing a very good job of harming our environment in other ways.
Speaking of great swindles
I actually hope that we haven’t jumped to the wrong conclusion, and that Secret teacher David Schirmer of Australia comes out smelling like a rat. You can get caught up at Cosmic Connie’s blog, and you can watch the unfolding story at YouTube.
The Nine: A Current Affair Show
David Schirmer, The Secret, hits back at A Current Affair
The Secret’s David Schirmer Exposed - Part Two
The Secret’s David Schirmer Exposed - Part Three
Usually I give people the benefit of the doubt. But in this case, I’m looking forward to the collapse of The Secret franchise. It is a microcosm of everything that is wrong, wrong, wrong in the world. Really. (Microcosm, windsock, whatever.)
Update 11/14: The sad saga continues in New Zealand.
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