...it certainly makes one think...

Do we do that? Nah...couldn't be...

Check out this quote in context at http://postsecret.blogspot.com (blatant advertising, and they're not even paying me!) For all my teacher-friends: keep loving those kids, they're daring you to!

And for those of you who've asked - Brokeback Mountain was pretty good. What really got me was the obvious discomfort the audience had during love scenes between the two cowboys, during which there was no explicit nudity, but how it was perfectly acceptable for both female actresses to be filmed topless while making love to either their boyfriend/husband. Woo hoo, way to go women's lib! I'm so glad women feel empowered to show their breasts so readily in public. It really makes me feel we've come a long way as a society...women are just so free now (pun intended).

Not that I'm judging or anything. Because that would be, you know, wrong.

Bad, Emily.

...I just don't get it...

So here's my query: Does going to see Brokeback Mountain make one a worse Christian?

Here are the responses I've had from other Christians in regards to the film: "really? You want to see that?" "I don't want to go, I'm too Catholic, I wouldn't enjoy it." and "why would you want to perpetuate the myth that being gay is ok by going to see that movie?"

Ouch.

I'm glad that Christians are always so loving and committed to non-judgemental behaviour. I mean, I've got lots of sin in my life, but at least I'm not gay. Phew. That would just be completely unacceptable.

And just for good measure: Does going to see The Passion of the Christ make one a better Christian?

Yeah, that's what I thought.

After all, they are just movies and do not necessarily define the way we think, what we accept, believe, or who we want to be. Does going to see American History X make one a neo-Nazi? Does going to see Peter Pan make one believe they can fly? And what about Underworld II (or III or whatever it is) does one have to believe in werewolves and vampires to watch that film? Not to mention condone violence, the use of force and the objectification of women...

So then, does going to see Brokeback Mountain make one a lesser Christian?

Let the debates begin!

...those old school Russian writers...

...they sure knew a thing or two, I'd say.

"Have you noticed, that on the oak, and the oak is a strong tree, the old leaves only fall off when the new leaves begin to grow?

That is what happens to an old love in a strong heart - it is dead already, but still it holds its place, only another new love can drive it out.

~ From Rudin by Turgenev

I wish my heart weren't so oak-like. Stupid hearts...they should realise they're not trees.

Talking about trees...I've noticed the trees in Halifax have buds on them already. We've been having some unseasonably warm weather here and I think the trees are confused. Not only do they think they're hearts, but they think it's springtime.

Silly trees.

...can you do that?...

My housemate is a fantastic cook. In fact, I first met her in a kitchen, but she doesn't remember. At any rate, we've had some good cooking experiences together, and she passes on important tips to me such as "cutting lettuce with a metal knife makes the lettuce rust, Emily" and "and the reason shark meat smells so bad when you cook it is because it has urea in it...you've got to soak it first. That's why it smells like a urinal when you cook it. " Right. Of course. To get rid of the urine in the meat, you've got to soak it first. For days. Maybe that's why we didn't like the shark meat from the market...

So anyway, her latest tip: you can substitute peanut butter for the tahini sauce you would use in a homemade hummus recipe. I don't think so. First of all, do you think that the Lebanese actually use peanut butter on a regular basis? Actually, do you think that they ever use peanut butter. Certainly not "Skippy" peanut butter...that's for sure. She's still going on about how every time she's ever made hummus she's used peanut butter. Wouldn't that make the hummus taste like...I don't know...peanuts? Yeah, I'm not convinced. I'll get back to you on how good the hummus is. (now she says to google it. I'll google her...maybe find out she's wanted for some culinary crimes or something...)

In other news: Erika gave me wooden numbers for our door for Christmas (that's it...nothing else, just the wooden numbers - just kidding) and so I painted them when I got home after the break. I'm not going to lie, I should open my own number-painting business. I've included a picture below just so you can get the full effect. The colours are a bit off and the fabulousness of the painting is not fully caputred by the technology, but it's still worth posting. Excitingly, Erika also bought more wooden numbers when she was at a home improvement store so I have two more sets of numbers to transform into artistic masterpieces. I'm thinking silver sparkle diva numbers (can anyone say Saturday Night Fever?) and splatter paint numbers (the 80s are so back in). Don't worry, I'll post those pictures later too.

I should really take an art class or something. The pinnacle of my artistic creativity in the last 3 months has been painting wooden numbers from the dollar store. It's sad, really. But I finally got to use that new paint brush I bought a year ago!

I know. You have no idea how exciting a new paint brush can truly be.