DJ A, HELPIN' YOU OUT THIS THURSDAY MORNING.

Missy Higgins. Player in the right hand corner.

MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK TO KURDISTAN!


nice Journey tshirt bought at the bazaar for less than one US dollar

do you like seafood? Yes. Why? SEA Food!?

Bob and his team were on retreat from their middle eastern country in another middle eastern country, and just got back. I'll be in London in just eight weeks, and we'll be home in the states in about the same time! How exciting!

LEAN ON ME...

As promised, a few pictures of the 70's Disco Inferno this past Saturday. I suspect that more pictures are soon to come at Cinderella J's place...

(this is the birthday girl, Brandi Meeker, Robert's MUCH older sister)


(from back L: Brandi; Craig, the resident sage in a fro; Cristi, the local tree hugger; front L: Me, frontin some sort of strange upper lipless grin?; Megan, the subdued by day Cat Lady, wild by night Wild Woman; and capping it off on the end, Brandy, the town drunk, but not the mean kind, the kind everyone wants to be around! ;-)


(that's me, your local tour guide/stewardess. Whatever I can do to arrange a good time for you and yours, just let me know!)

Passengers: MISS ANGELA OSBORNE

Flight number: BA0294
From: O'Hare (Chicago) Terminal 5
To: Heathrow (London) Terminal 4
Depart: 14 Jul 2006 9:15
Arrive: 15 Jul 2006 11:00
Operated by: British Airways
Booking status: Confirmed

Flight number: BA0297
From: Heathrow (London) Terminal 4
To: O'Hare (Chicago) Terminal 5
Depart: 19 Jul 2006 12:55
Arrive: 19 Jul 2006 3:10
Operated by: British Airways
Booking status: Confirmed

FLORIDA SUCKS.

Why go to Florida when you can go to Georgia or the Carolinas? Alligators are eating the people of Florida for lunch this week! Ick!

PANDORA STRIKES AGAIN

Seriously. This is what happens when my internet goes down for a few days like it did earlier this week. I feel a need to catch up all at once (and make several post in one day, even if they're in essence useless posts). I was a mad mess this week, too, because of that. You don't have to tell me that I have an unhealthy connection to the net - I already know. It's worse when I can't sleep.

Pandora kicked up Bic Runga this afternoon, when playing my station for Duncan Sheik. Initially, it was the song Something Good, and that made me flip back to the Pandora player to see who was playing...but after I visited her site, I thought I might actually like her. I can't like EVERY song, of course, but I do like a lot of what I'm hearing. Some of it's too whiney and ethereal for me. There's a player in the right hand corner of her site if you want to take a listen. Apparently, I like her album Beautiful Collision, because I've really liked every song playing from that particular album. Thanks Pandora!

FAT, DRUNK AND STUPID IS NO WAY TO GO THROUGH LIFE, SON.

We went to see Brandi's and Bob's cousin's band Vinyl play at Little Brothers tonight. Do I LOOK like I'm not 21? I mean, I got carded when I was 23. I can understand that - I maybe looked like I was 21. I got carded when I was 25. I understood it less then. But I'm 20-freaking-7 now. Is it necessary? Do I REALLY look like I MIGHT be under 21? And yeah, I know...maybe the guy at the door just cards EVERYONE. But still...he didn't card the people who were OBVIOUSLY not 21, so I guess I'm not one of those people yet. (Yeah, I know. A few years from now, I'm going to appreciate getting carded. You know, like when I'm as old as Brandi)! ;-)

I AM BORED SO THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

>>>This is what you get for goofing off at work. I love this prank, in all its forms!
>>>This guy is no Joe Maxim, but he'll do for Brandi in a pinch, because he has a grasp of just about every dance move from the twist to the lawnmower to the slightest headnod in Eminem's videos.
>>>Russell Peters makes me laugh. And he does it by cracking on every culture under the sun. This video clip is really long, but it would be good to have running in the background while you're working on something else if YOU'RE bored...
>>>Yeah right. Yet another reason these tests are bogus. First Houston came up as the first "BIG" I should live in at www.findyourspot.com. Now This:

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique woman like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

and uh? A "little bit punk rock?" I'm sure that's NEVER described me a day in my life. It's because one of the questions was:
Your idea of culture is:

a. Poetry, fashion shows, and good wine
b. Ethnic food, first run theater shows, and punk concerts
c. Going to a modern art museum or clubbing with your friends
d. The opera or out dancing with your sweetie

and I chose "b." I will NEVER be punk rock. This was especially proven by my outfit at last night's party. Tom P. used to describe me as a Disney Tour Guide when I would give announcements on Sundays at church. Apparently, even when I'm a throwback to the 70's, I can't get away from that. As soon as I walked into the party last night, Christy (Bob's stepmom), said, "OHMYGOD! Angie! You look JUST LIKE one of those airline stewardesses from the 70's! WOW!" And Brandi said that my dress was the "Brady Bunch" 70's look, or the preppy 70's look. So yeah, 2006 or 1976. Punk rock I am not.
>>>HA! Now I'm not a HUGE Star Wars fan, mostly because I haven't seen all six in one the same decade yet, so I can't keep the whole story line together in my head...but...this is funny! TROOPS. Let's say, "Bad boys, Bad boys...whatcha gonna do? It's like a bad video sitcom mash up...Haha!

NICE MOVE? DID YOU MAKE THAT UP?
Yeah, well...I saw it on TV first, then I made it up.

Pictures will be coming soon, I promise.

And it was a crazy Saturday night this one... last night was Brandi's birthday party (Brandi is Robert's sister for those who don't know). She turned 30 on Friday.

She'd been saying forever that she wanted a 70's party, so she could get all glammed up and go dancing, so our home group offered to do that - get all dressed up and go take a group dance lesson together at this dance studio down in Grandview. Brandi has mentioned wanting to take lessons at this place before to me because everytime we drive past she says, "I don't know what's going on in there, but it must be fun because the windows are all all hot and steamy!" So we told her that's what we were doing for her birthday (actually all of that would be on Sat., her 30th bday was on Fri.). But you have to know - the folks in our home group = not exactly dancers (myself included to some extent). Some of them kind of had to be TOLD that they were getting 70'd up, and that they were dancing because "this is Brandi's party dangit and this is what she wants so we're going to do this just so, so there!!" And told in front of Brandi, too, so she'd know what a drag it was to get them to go dancing just for her. Not all of them, and eventually they caved to the fun of it all, but for a few moments, we had to convince them it was worth their time. It was perfect!

On FRIDAY night though, when her entire family "should have" been getting together to throw her a huge FAMILY party, they were all conveniently busy or had to work or just plain forgot and couldn't make it to any sort of party, so just Brandi, her mom, her grandma and I went to dinner at Schmidt's, this classic German restaurant downtown. Not a bad way to spend your 30th, but NOT the way that Brandi had been expecting. She was OOZING disappointment. No big party from her family, pulling teeth to get some of the home group to go dancing (not ALL-some of them were totatlly into it ((and in the end they were ALL into it - wait until you see the pictures - they were awesome!!)). And to top it all off, after dinner, she and I went to see the WORST "coming of age" movie I've ever seen (the new Lindsey Lohan movie.) So Brandi Meeker rang in her next thirty years sulking in a movie theater mad at the world for not giving her the best 30th party ever...

OH! Did I mention yet that we were never REALLY going dancing? Yeah... it was all a front and everyone knew it. See, Brandi's mom lives very near the dance studio, and "of course" she would want to see our home group all 70'd up in our outfits, right? And "of course" we'd have to stop by to show her so she could take pictures before we got all disheavled dancing? Kind of like prom!

And OF COURSE! Once we got there to take those pictures, all of Brandi's friends and family would be there waiting for her with the rest of the party! HAAAAAAAY! HOOOOO!!! The same people who "had to work," "forgot," "could't make it," or whatever the night before...

But Brandi almost screwed it up! We were ON TIME. Our "dance lesson" started at 7:45, and we were supposed to be at her mom's at 7:30. Brandi was getting all upset. "Why can't mom just come meet us at the studio? That way we don't have to get out of the cars twice? We're going to be late if we stop at mom's." It was kind of raining, too, and I think she didn't want her hair to get messed up. I thought she was going to call Tammy and throw a fit! Whew! I made up some junk about how the studio opens just for our lesson and so the guy would be okay if we were five minutes late...blah, blah, blah... and a few minutes later we were standing at the door of Tammy's apartment, having just "knocked and walked into to get out pictures taken" only Brandi was stadind there crying, saying, "I, I, I... I was so mad at all of you guys! and you! My sisters! You especially! You were supposed to be at my party last night! And wait? Wha? There's no dance lesson is there?? Oh! I get it! Thank you guys!"

It was great! I *think* that we really did surprise her. And then... we danced. Some more than others (vanessabrandondeedeeandevengrandmakaybrokeitdown), but we danced. And Brandi danced...And it was fun. Good times.

Pictures soon...Because seriously. Craig's Fro; Megan's Braid; Cristi's Hair Thingy; Brandy's Hair; Brandi's Earrings...classic and definitely worth this long post and some pictures. AND! Let it be known here and now that there was alcohol involved. Not for me...but for certain OTHER home group members...that will remain nameless HERE...but you know where to go to find the jokes if you're one of us. ;-) Happy Birthday Brandi! and for the rest of you with 30th's coming up! You're next!

YO! CHILL...DON'T BUMP THE TABLE!

(Matthew 6)
30"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers--most of which are never even seen--don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? 31What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. 32People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. 33Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

AN OPEN LETTER TO OLD NAVY

Dear Old Navy:

What makes you think that every size 12 or a size 10 wants the new fasionble tears and rips in her jeans? You obviously have your pulse on the edge of 2006 summer fashion. You must know more about these things than I do. But then here's what I don't get. Why do only the tall people deserve to have their pants fall neatly over their sandals? Your sales associate today informed me (after 40 minutes of searching in vain for this exact pair of jean) that Old Navy does not manufacture the Flare Jean in "short," only the Bootcut Jean. Now your Bootcut is great, if you're wearing boots and want a leg that is going to end at your ankle. But, it's summer, and we short people, we wear sandals, too, you know?

Why can't we have flared short pants? Not gigantic elephant pants that make us look like our legs disappear into the ground. We don't need help looking shorter than we are. We KNOW not to wear CRAZY flares. We don't want that. But your bootcuts don't work for sandals. We want our pants to grace our shoes like the tall ones do...but apparently, you don't want us to buy those pants from you. So we won't. We've been to Maurices and we know that they have cute "short" jeans, too, for about the same price. Old Navy <-----short discriminators.

Thanks for nothing these days,

"short" sized 10/12

7 THINGS. ALL DAY. EVERY DAY.

I was thinking in the middle of Saturday night service that Tom should send an email reminder to the church to do their lists of "7 Things To Do, All Day Every Day." He won't, but he should. But I can. So here's your reminder. Maybe if you're brave, you'll post it as a comment even. In an attempt to gain control of the "cHiARoTiCA" of your life, if you had to do only seven things a day, every day for the rest of your life, what would they be? Seriously. ONLY seven things. ALL day. EVERY day. FOR----- EV-----ER.

Also, another question for you guys and gals... Tom said in his message this weekend that the four parts to a godly Sabbath were (let's see if I can remember this without the notes in front of me, so I'm totally paraphrasing)...

based on psalm 92
1. worship (through music??)
2. contemplation and comparison of the Lord's greatness??
3. uninhibited play (that's really the one I remember)
4. uh...considering areas of growth and flourishing?

In order to ask the next question, someone will need to help me clarify those four areas... but...which of those four areas do you need to rest in more often on your Sabbath? Which is the easiest for you? AND WHY? is there something we can do to help? is there something we're doing to get in the way? How goes your Sabbath these days?

Author's Notes:
I gotta be honest - Sabbath goes hard for me these days. And
for me, it's a matter of space. I'm realizing that space is important to me. #1 "Worship" is actually getting...well, I'm finding MORE space there (or as you might me saying in other posts, I'm finding more space "to breathe" there). But, as for the other three - not so much. It's because I'm in the same SPACES all the time...without the ability to vary that myself. It's like that old McD's commerical: get up up, go to work, go home, go to bed, and on and on it goes. Now, don't get me wrong. I TOTALLY do things. All the time. I'm out with my amazing group of friends a few nights a week doing fun and meaningful things with them. I can't just breakout and go...somewhere beautiful by myself.

And I know this sounds awful, but DRIVING was a part of my worship. (Devan would understand this if she were reading). God met me in my car, on open roads, with the windows down and radio up, getting lost on backroads near the river. THAT was my uninhibited play, comparing the Lord's greatness and considering areas of growth - all at once. And truthfully, it very often happened on Sundays (in the evening, after lunch, after a nap, after whatever else... as Sundays should be!). Ahhh...I'm breathing just thinking about it. Like the dog on the porch, I suppose. haha... It's no wonder dogs hang their tongues out they go for a ride. Just pure enjoyment - soaking it all in. I can't do that right now. Haha... Yeah, I guess I'm saying I can't just hang my head out the window with my tongue flopping in the breeze. Funny picture, eh? I walk to the mailbox. And I lick my lips a little on the way there? How's that?! Yeah, not quite the same, huh.

So Sabbath's got to take on a new form for me, because the old way's not resting. Brandi showed me a six-foot deep couch the other day. That could be a Sabbath all by itself. I wouldn't even have to go anywhere if I had that. THAT could be my somewhere beautiful. Can you imagine? A six-foot deep couch? Ohhh... I'm totally distracted now. I'm not driving in the car anymore, I'm napping on the couch. It's just as nice, really. They're both good places to consider God's goodness. They both teach me about God's rest. And on that note. I should go to bed. Good night Y'all.

AMANDA - HERE ARE THE DATES FOR YOUR DREAM DATE. ;-)


THE 2005 SUMMER MUSIC SERIES AT THE OHIO THEATRE

CAPA’s Summer Movie Series returns for its biggest year ever! We’re bringing back our greatest hits from past summers—all of your favorite blockbuster musicals, dramas, comedies…plus some series debuts thrown in for good measure. The most movies, biggest hits, and brightest stars—all in the grandeur of the Ohio Theatre!

The 2006 Series:
Gone With the Wind (1939): Friday-Sunday, June 16-18
Suspicion (1941): Wednesday-Friday, June 21-23
Mary Poppins (1964): Wednesday-Friday, June 24-25
Citizen Kane (1941): Wednesday-Friday, June 28-30
Captain Eddie (1945): Saturday, July 1
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957): Saturday & Sunday, July 1 & 2
The Forbidden Planet (1956): Wednesday, July 5
The Kid Brother (1927): Thursday & Friday, July 6 & 7
Saturday Morning Cartoon Capers - Saturday, July 8
Brigadoon (1954): Saturday & Sunday, July 8 & 9
White Heat (1949): Wednesday-Friday, July 12-14
Casablanca (1942): Saturday & Sunday, July 15 & 16
After the Thin Man (1936): Wednesday-Friday, July 19-21
Bye Bye Birdie (1963): Saturday & Sunday, July 22 & 23
The Spiral Staircase (1946): Wednesday-Friday, July 26-28
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966): Saturday & Sunday, July 29 & 30
National Lampoon's Animal House (1978): Wednesday-Friday, August 2-4 (Rated R)
Giant (1956): Saturday & Sunday, August 5 & 6
Lost Horizon (1937): Wednesday, August 9
A Woman of Affairs (1928): Thursday & Friday, August 10 & 11
Saturday Morning Cartoon Capers: Saturday, August 12
The Wizard of Oz (1939): Saturday & Sunday, August 12 & 13
Cabaret (1972): Wednesday-Friday, August 16-18
Roman Holiday (1953): Saturday & Sunday, August 19 & 20
Chinatown (1974): Wednesday-Friday, August 23-25 (Rated R)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956): Saturday & Sunday, August 26 & 27

THE NERD FILES, ch.1

One day, many years from now, I'm going to travel to Noerdlingen, Germany. "Why!? Angie? WHY do you want to travel to NOERDLINGEN, Germany?"

Well, that's a good question. My brother Joe lived in Germany for a few years. He's told me it's a pretty great place - used to say he didn't want to move home, even. But he never mentioned Noerdlingen. If he had, I suspect I would have found a way to come visit.

Noerdlingen, Germany, is an entire town built on a impact crater. GASP!

Yeah, that's right. An impact crater - formed when a meteorite hit the earth (you remember this stuff...). I mean, this isn't like four row houses and a well. We're talking about an entire German town. And the church - right smack in the middle - the stone that the church is built of - it's built from the impacted stone from the u.. well, from the impact. And if you look at the town (which you'll see if you'll click on that link), you'll see that the town is totally built in a circle! in the shape of the crater. Too funny! But the scientists didn't see it at first because it was too obvious; no one could "see" the crater because the town was in the way!

Just imagine - all over that town, you can probably wall around and look at the rocks. Awesome.

And yes, I know, there's a much bigger, well preserved impact crater here in the states. Meteor Crater in AZ. I'd like to see it, too. I'm a little grossed out by the website, because it's so commercial, but...whatever. That's not the crater's fault, is it?

[edit: no coicidence then that the town's name looks like it might be pronounced "NERDlingen".]

HEADLINE READS: FREE MASSAGES ON HIGH STREET


The first Gallery Hop that I've been to since January 8 was tonight. I haven't been able to go since we started the Saturday night service because I've worked until Gallery Hop was over, basically. Now that I'm not on staff, my weekends are free for all sorts of fun. Oh it was nice to be downtown again, even it was just for two hours, and even if we really didn't get to browse much because the shops were closed by the time we got down there. I LOVE our city. I know that it's a "city," and so technically I shouldn't be able to breathe as easily down there...but tonight, I just wanted to be THERE...and breathe there for a while, instead of here in the burbs. I don't know how to explain that or why that is, but it was easy breathing there. I used to be afraid of the city. I felt lost in that sea of people. I still do kind of, but it's different. Now it's okay...almost like that's the point. Like I appreciate THAT aspect of it...and realize that it's not being LOST at all. It's just everyone being there at the same time, and knowing WHY they're there at the same time, on purpose (if that makes any sense). And it doesn't have to be the same reasons, either.

Like tonight - the hula hoop lady wasn't there for the same reason as the dancing couple, or the tuba man, or the turkish goods lady, or the server at the restaurant, or the crazed animal guy, or the "hey - don't feel bad lady - you're pretty too!" boy. There's no need to feel lost around all of those different people, because they're all just people there for a reason...just like we were. And the five of us, we were all there for different reasons, too, huh? even though we came together. It was just good to BE together. And I think that's why I'm coming to appreciate our city. Because you can be your version of different at the same time as everyone else's different, at the same time, at the same place, and it's really pretty. It makes it easy to breathe.

WHY YOU WANNA GO AND DO THAT?

Ok. This video is VERY funny, until the last victim. But enjoy the first few people's reactions...cause they're priceless! Apparently the skeleton is saying, "come to hell with me."

MATTHEW 6
25"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. 26Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

27"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? 28All this time and money wasted on fashion--do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, 29but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best--dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers--most of which are never even seen--don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? 31What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. 32People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. 33Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

GET DOWN WITH YOUR BAD SELF

Cristi and I were at Red Robin the other, and I think I caught a case of the giggles...because for some reason the cartoons on the TV were synching up the muzac on the loudspeakers...and let me tell you...

It's good tv when Yogi Bear serenades "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir" to Boo Boo, while banging a frying pan over his head in the middle of the forest...oddly enough to the beat of the song itself.

And it just kept happening over and over...a new song, a new cartoon. And over and over, I'd get the giggles. Good thing it was late lunch time, because I was actually laughing kind of loud. I think that I'm going to try to make some of these videos myself, and post them here, if anyone has any suggestions. Just name the cartoon and the song that should go with it!

HOW'D HE DO THAT?

I can't even fake it that fast. Listen for the clarinet.

When I was in high school, I was in band. If you know me at all, you know that by now. I'm a PROUD band nerd (she says as she holds up a white gloved fist, only the glove has the fingers cut off...because when you play clarinet in marching band, that's what you do. You cut the finger off so you can actually cover the finger holes on the clarinet completely). See. I told you I was a band nerd. I can play a variety of instruments, though - clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, french horn, marching french horn, trumpet, and others...AND, not only was I a band nerd, I was THE band nerd. Drum Major two years.

I should say that I COULD play a variet of instruments. I haven't played in years.

Anyway...there is a licorice-stick playing god out there, and you probably don't even know it. Most people only think of Benny Goodman, if they know of ANY master clarinetist. But there's another. His name is Eddie Daniels. My family used to have a friend, a very old gentleman who would take me to experience the Cincy Symphony every so often. He was close friends with the principal cellist and his wife, who I think played violin. So we'd go to the symphony and let me tell you. The experience of a band, or orchestra, or symphony...it's just magical for me. The lights of the concert hall reflecting off the brass, the tension in the air as the players warm up individually, then together and the music...it's fantastic. I just love it.

But this guy Eddie Daniels. He's a genius. I used to have a video of him playing. His fingers move SO fast - it's almost like watching a video animation of a clarinetist. And I can't imagine how he breathes the way he does or moves this tongue quickly enough or staccatto enough to produce the sounds he does. Seriously, it's kind of amazing.

Even if you don't like orchestral music, or jazz music, or whatever he happens to be playing...you've got to appreciate the excellence of this man's talent. No real point in sharing this though beyond sharing some amazing music that you've probably never heard... Eddie Daniels!

ARE THERE WORDS TO THE BIRD DANCE SONG?

Because there really are no words to describe this...

When I first moved to C-bus, and more specifically Grove City, I didn't understand what was meant when someone would throw up their gang sign and exclaim "Wesside," but it's like in this one photograph, the Grove City essence of Wesside is captured. Who would have a thought that an after church outing to KFC with the Meekers, Cristi and Megan would have produced two days of left over chicken AND this culturally significant photograph? Not me, that's for sure... Actually, I'm not really trying to poke fun. The crew there at KFC seemed to be having fun and still getting their job done...quite a feat for being teenage fast food workers, I'd say. Good for them! And all while wearing that dope sideways hat and a fly trashbag for a scarf? What more could a teenager ask for in this life???