A Break in the Clouds

Where did Christmas go wrong? I mean, why do we feel like we have to buy to have Christmas? I find it interesting that we start the Christmas season by stampeding into Walmarts and Targets to spend our money as fast as we can. It's everything that's wrong with our society. I was looking at pictures from yesterday online and there are all these incidences of people trampling each other to get into the stores. Self-centeredness at its finest. All in the name of saving money. Here's an idea: stay home, you'll save a great deal more money. People were running through the stores packed with all they could carry. What evil genius devised this plan? Let's have people spend all of their money on our merchandise, all the while feeling like they are compelled to. Hurry, hurry, spend, spend, more, more... Why do we fall for it? Fools, the whole lot of us. Folly at its finest. It is times like this that I agree with the liberal faction fighting to remove the term Christmas from the holiday season. I wonder if Jesus agrees? Afterall, we have practically replaced Christ with consumerism. What evil genius devised this plan? Let's have them believe they are worshiping Christ, all the while praising mammon. (Don't answer that last question; it was rhetorical.) Instead of holiday or Christmas, how about creditmas or debtmas, (they're basically the same thing, right?) Where have we gone wrong and, more importantly, how do we find our way back? God I pray that I am not fooled into thinking that if I buy merchandise branded with 'Jesus is the reason for the season' I am actually exemplifying that principle. I long to walk backwards, one step at a time, until I am out of the storm and can once again see the star shining brightly in the East, leading me to worship Him.

Death by Numbers

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8; my favorite count. Deep breath; 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8. Relax.
Ok, so here's the deal: I have been trying so hard to lose weight. I'm counting my calories. 3500 calories in one pound. 1377 calories on Wednesday. 1033 calories today. 0 pounds lost this week. 1 breakdown in frustration. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8; breathe. 2 pep talks from my husband. 3 inches lost this week. 1 sigh of relief. 70 calories in a slice of bread. 2 sandwiches with 1 piece of bread, folded over. 45 pounds I want to lose. 1 week counting calories and 45 pounds to go. 8 ounces of soda I've had this week. 60 minutes of cardio workout I need to do, 7 days a week. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8. I miss the days when I was 15 and ran 7 miles a day and could eat 4 cheeseburgers a day and gain 0 pounds. (Like dust in the wind, that time.) 0 cheeseburgers I've had this week. 1 Subway turkey sub: 420 calories in that. 45 pounds to go; 45 pounds. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.

Yo This is Creepy

So, my son loves Yo Gabba Gabba. If you haven't seen this show, you probably should because it's one of the most popular shows for preschoolers, who will be in charge of this world in twenty to thirty years. I used to think that the show was just silly but I feel I now must reclassify it as creepy.
First of all, what is the premise of this show, exactly? There is this guy who wears an orange leotard and a fuzzy hat who carrys around this box disguised as a boom box containg all these dolls that come to life when sprinkled with magical glitter. What happens when his friends ask him to play some music on that thing? 'Ummm, well...I better go; it's getting late...'
There is this one episode that has been around awhile where Broby, the little green one, is having a party in his tummy. Carrots and green beans are all upset that they were not invited to the party in Broby's tummy. They are crying and begging to be digested. Creepy.
There is a newer episode now where Broby is having a birthday. All the other dolls-come-to-life are planning a surprise party for him. Some random chef comes on the show and bakes this life size cake of Broby. As it turns out, not only is the cake life-size, it also comes to life and starts dancing around. It's already creepy, right? Well after the cake wishes Broby a happy birthday it says, "you wanna piece of me?" Does the cake want to fight? Is the cake, like the kamikaze green beans, wanting to be eaten? Does it matter?
Were the shows I watched this creepy? I think I should go back and watch and post further about this. What do you remember? Any creepy shows? Let me know here or on facebook. I wonder if there have been any studies on the amount of creepiness in children's television and future implications...