I think I'm going to have to give up . . .

on large floral prints. I always think that a skirt with big flowers on it will be so cute, and that a bunch of my solid-colored tops will coordinate with the colors of the flowers. And then I buy the skirt (usually online) and get in front of a mirror at home . . . and it just doesn't look right on me. (This has happened twice so far this year!)

I do have one party dress that has fairly large flowers on it that I love. I have had it for probably close to a decade (I keep clothes that I like for a long time) and worn it maybe twice. I bought it when The Daily Planet was closing and had much of their inventory available at vastly reduced prices. (The skort with the large leaf print that I bought at the same time recently went to the Salvation Army or Goodwill -- because I had trouble finding a shirt that looked good with it. Sigh. Maybe I shouldn't be wearing any large prints!)

The next New Testament translation

I am now reading Heinz Cassirer's God's New Covenant: A New Testament Translation. (I've finished Colossians and 1 Peter.)

Cassirer was a German Jewish academic who moved to England when Hitler came into power. (He became a professor at Oxford; I wonder if he and C. S. Lewis knew each other?) He became a Christian late in life.

I think I like the language of Cassirer's translation better than Lattimore's. It seems to somehow have more weight and beauty.

That said, I do like the fact that Lattimore's did not have the scripture verse numbers before each verse (instead the range was at the top of the page, i.e. 1 Corinthians 2:3-16), so I was able to read it more as a "regular book," without visually being interrupted. (Of course, you couldn't use Lattimore's very well in a setting that required you to find a verse quickly, or follow along with a minister as he spoke.)

I finished the New Testament!

Now, I plan to start reading a different translation or version.

I miss our local thrift shop!

It has been a little over a year since the thrift shop that was located within walking distance moved away. The old sign finally went down this week (or, actually, was covered over) and an office is moving into the space.

I visited that particular thrift shop probably on average twice a week. It was one of the "social meeting places" of our town -- with bankers, office workers, folks who were going to visit the social services office up the street all mingling (all races, too).

Since the prices were so low (most items were $3, with out-of-season and badly-flawed items $1, and coats and dresses around $7), I could experiment with silk shirts, "artsy" vests, and striped skirts. (Besides, I could tell myself that I was doing a good deed and was helping the less fortunate by spending money at that store.)

I've visited the new location, and it is a lot smaller and has a dark and dingy feeling (even if it is in an almost new shopping center). I've visited other thrift shops in the area, too, and have not found one I liked as well.

I still have a lot of the clothes that I purchased at the thrift store, although some of the items are getting a little worn. I am finding stores I like online -- Cabela's has a good sale area, and Sierra Trading Post has good prices. I've had some success with buying a group of clothing items on E-bay, but I do have to be picky and not expect that every item in a lot will work for me. (A lot of five items netted me two shirts that I have been wearing a lot at home this summer, one skirt that was too short, and two skirts that I don't think are destined to become favorites over the long haul, but I may wear for a summer or two.)

Kudos to Joel Siegel . . .

for walking out of a trashy movie. Since the last movie I saw in a theatre was E. T. (when it first came out!), I've never had to make the same decision. I borrow most of the movies I watch from the local library. At times, I have just quit watching when something I found morally offensive appeared, but all too often I have found myself continuing on in the vague hope that the movie will improve. (For the record, I do usually read the back of the DVD box, a review, or somehow else familiarize myself with the contents before checking out the DVD, and almost always avoid ones with an R-rating.)

It's hot . . . .

(Well, it usually is in July!) I have to confess that I do not deal all that well with temperatures over 88 or so. I'm tempted to try to find a cool place to sit around with a novel and a glass of iced tea -- and since I am self-employed, I could almost getting away with doing so!

But, in my recent re-reading of the New Testament, I've noticed that Christians are exhorted more than once to WORK, in order to be able to support themselves and their families, and so that they are able to give. So, I'm trying to do what I know I need to do, even when I'm sweating buckets. (A lot of my work is done in un-air-conditioned conditions.)

Bible Translations

I collect different versions of the Bible (particularly the New Testament). I am reading Richmond Lattimore's translation of the New Testament right now (I still have part of Luke and all of Acts to finish [I didn't read it in order].

I am also reading the Minor Prophets and Psalms backwards (backwards, as in Malachi and Psalm 150 first) in the New King James Version. I have the (probably bad) habit of reading the ending of a novel first, and starting a magazine at the back. I'll have to see how it goes when reading the Old Testament.

An Anticipated Event

I live about 2-3 hours away from several large universities that have big libraries. (I started to say lovely libraries, but I have found that libraries are often not the most attractive of buildings on a campus, and that architecture and design libraries are usually the worst, in my humble opinion. But libaries are appealing to me because of the contents, anyway.)

I try to visit some of the libraries that aren't too far away from me several times a year (I've been to three university libraries this year, plus two college libraries). I will probably have an opportunity to visit one of the universities in the next couple of weeks.

I have three areas of study that are my primary focus: architectural history, fashion history, and local history (in alphabetical order, not in order of preference). This leads to a slight dilemma , as the particular university I am going to visit has information on all three areas and I will have to decide what to research in the hours that I will have.

I worked primarily on architectural study last time I was there (and spent a few minutes on fashion history), so it would make sense for me to work on local history this time. On the other hand, I have a list of about 12 microfilms that I didn't get time to see on my last trip. And then there are the items in special collections that I've wanted to see for years, but I usually think that it would be more efficient for me to look at things on the shelves and on microfilm, rather than spending time filling out the request to look at the items, getting a locker to stow all my stuff in (one's personal belongings are not usually allowed into a special collections area), then waiting for the items to be pulled for me to look at, etc.

So, I am still deliberating. What may make up my mind is logistics -- two of the three libraries that I am interested in visiting are within a few yards of each other, and the third is two or three blocks away.

Movie Review: Forever Darling

Last night, I watched the 1955 movie Forever Darling (starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and James Mason). A short synopsis of the film: Lucille Ball (housewife) and Desi Arnaz (insecticide developer) have been married for several years (and have no children as of yet). They are drifting apart, and Lucille's guardian angel decides to step in and help the couple improve their marriage.

Overall, I would give the movie a six out of a ten. Below are some of my objections and things I found praise-worthy.

From a Christian and moral standpoint: I would give a thumbs-up to the message of a husband and wife needing to work together (and not have their own separate agendas, floating along in different directions). (It is sad that Lucille and Desi evidently couldn't follow their own advice in this movie.) Although I do believe in angels, I don't agree with exactly how Lucille's angel was portrayed -- and, frankly, I squirmed a little when Lucille tried to flirt with the angel. Other things that bothered me included all the fussing that Lucy and Desi do, and Desi's occasional rudeness.

From a fashion standpoint: Lucille's clothing and hair styles are fun to observe. Watch for the little things, like the lining of her coat and the front of her vest matching. (I also loved her clothing in the breakfast scene.)

Other comments: It suprised me that Desi (as a scientist) was out spraying for bugs with a new chemical that was stronger than DDT wearing NO safety equipment. It was a reminder of how much more careful we are now, a little over 50 years later, with chemicals.

My First Post!

I wish I had something profound to start off with.