This pretty much sums up my job

And now michelle has yet another hole in her head

Pretty Excited for this One!

So I recently purchased a book called American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America by a man called Chris Hedges.
I have seen a couple of interviews with the author and I am very excited to read this book.
Too bad I have 2 mid terms on Thursday! Eventually I will have time to read it. Then I'll blog about how awesome it is!

Rites of Passage?

So on Monday in my anthropology class we were discussing rites of passage. This seems like a pretty interesting topic and my instructor presented different ideas about the subject and then told us that we were going to watch a video. He often uses videos in this class because we as students are able to get a good visual of what he is talking about in lecture. So she pops the video in and I begin to wonder what rite of passage will be explored in this video. I begin to think about having to watch a circumcision, or perhaps watch some men from that tribe that invented bungee jumping. Have you ever heard of them? There is this tribe where to become a man you must go into the jungle and cut a vine for yourself. With the vine you do what is similar to a bungee jump and this ushers you into man hood. The catch is that the man that comes closest to the ground without smashing his face into it, is the manliest man! The video started and I discovered that I was very wrong in my guessing.

The video was about basic training in the United States Marines! I could not believe it. I decided to give my teacher the benefit of the doubt and watch the "rite of passage". The host of this documentary began to talk about how in the Marines they take a bunch of 18 year old boys and turn them into men. I watched as the scared boys were stripped of the civilian life, and brain washed. This was called giving the boys the tools to become men. Slowly I began to feel sick as I watched the video.

I watched as the boys underwent physical training, learning correct protocol for walking, eating, breathing, going to the bathroom, not thinking for one's self etc. I finally began to feel a great deal of anger when the instructors began to teach the "men" about killing. We are told that the Marines must be able to kill without thinking in a combat situation. So in order to prepare these "men" to do so, they are taught that the enemy is "sub-human". This really pissed me off, and I pushed my chair away from my table and began to think about getting up and leaving the room. How can you assign a lesser value to anyone's life! After this sick comment we see a clip where the "men" are asked the most disgusting question I have ever heard, "Other than blowing up and killing the enemy, what else is a grenade good for?" That was it for me, I got up and left the room. I felt sick, and angry, and disgusted. All the while thinking to myself that this is not a right of passage. These "men" are not being given the tools to be men, they are being brainwashed to be mindless killing machines. At one point in the video the host of the documentary mentions that usually only young men get trained to be Marines. I firmly believe that the reason for this is because scared young men will more readily brainwashed into the killing machine the Marines want them to be. Older men are more capable of thinking on their own and will not be easily swayed from their own thoughts.

A few minutes later I was joined outside by another student, Matthew, and we both discussed that we were unable to stay in the room. We decided that we should go back in the room after the video of complete to stir up some "poop" during the discussion. To our horror there was no discussion! I could not believe it. The instructor was obviously aware that 2 students had left the room, why was there no discussion? Instead he popped in another video that we had not completed in the previous week. This video played until the end of class. So Matthew and I stayed out in the hallway and chatted.

I honestly cannot believe that that video was used as an example for a rite of passage.
Well, I shouldn't say that. Heather pointed out to me yesterday that if you take the context of American society into consideration, then perhaps it is a right of passage.
I still struggle with man assigning value to each individual life. That is NOT our job. God has created us all equal and beautifully made in his image. We cannot as humans have the audacity to then start to play God, and assign value to life. This is why I felt so sick.

I realize that war is sometimes the only answer to conflict, it's not like we can usher people in conflict into a room and make them play rock paper scissors to resolve it. But I do not support the mindless killing that occurs during times of conflict. Honestly I do not have a better idea either. I don't know how human life could be spared in conflict. I just know that I am not cool with it, and I am not cool with the video example of rites of passage in class on Monday.

I don't even know what to call this one!

So today I heard that Bush has made comments wishing that Saddam Hussein's hanging would have been carried out in a more dignified way.
I guess that he would be the ultimate authority on execution. As the govenor of Texas, Bush concented to the execution of 152 people. 152 people! That was a new record.
Tell me this, how would one carry out killing another human being in a "more dignified" way?

Ahem....is this thing on?

So I guess I'm due for a new post.
To be honest, I got nothin'!
So here is a general update:

1. New Years was nice. Heather, Liz and I hung out and reveled in our singleness. This involved cheap sparkling wine, and episodes of the OC season 5 on DVD. Yeah, I know, you wish you could be as cool as us too. At about 11:00 we went to Match's loft to ring in the new year with some of the ceebs crowd. We ended up going over to the Steeves, Poon and Roper house to watch the ball drop on thier redonkulously large TV. KT Tunstall totally rocked the hot! A good time was had by all.

2. Heather and I have begun to really get into the planning for our most excellent european adventure. We got a bunch of books from the library and spent like 2 hours at EA going through them. The trip is beginning to feel real! I AM SO EXCITED!

3. Heather and I saw Blood Diamond. That movie is really intense. We both felt all the more convicted to purchase ethically produced products. It's the responsible choice kids.

4. Heather and I also saw Babel. You should probably see it. I am still processing this one.

5. Heather and I took Adam, Jon and Liz for Pho the other night and then went to IKEA. We rounded out the bases, an interesting conversation to say the least...nuff said.

6. Today my friend Abby is getting baptised. I am sooooooo excited for her, God is feeling pretty good about it too. I get the honor of affirming her. I am a little nervous, I've never done this before. I chose Job 22:21-22 for her, then I think I'll talk about how she's a great influence on her peers at youth and that I love her dearly. I am pretty much having a "proud parent" moment today. I'll probably cry.

7. Today at church Pastor Ray actually used the phrase "he saw the star....bucks." Context: before communion we had a time where people could share joys, pray requests etc. A woman talked about how her grandson's friend had come to Christ at Starbucks. Previously Ray had been preaching about Ephipany and talking about star and light metaphor and imagery. He then said the above phrase.
I thought I was going to die, I could not believe he said that. I am pretty certain he is not feel stellar about it either. One of those classic think before you speak moments.


Oh, finally today on the way to church Heather reminded me of something that I have been meaning to blog forever and totally have not.
One Sunday she and I arrived at church to see that there was an ambulance in the parking lot. I looked at it, looked at my watch, and then said to Heather quite calmly "the traditional service must be out."

Keep it hot kids

Jingle all the Way

So ah....I guess I am due for some sort of Christmas Post.

I guess this is the part where I do that.

Christmas this year was unlike any I have ever experienced, and I quite enjoyed that.
I spent 5 days with my dad, my step mom, my sister and my step brother in a condo at a world class ski restort. Yup, Big White rocked my face off yet another time.

Friday the 22nd
I met my dad and Carolle in Abbotsford to complete the sale of my car. I am so glad that it is finally gone. And the car pays for my European adventure! After that I went back to my house and packed up my things and went to dad's house in Chilliwack for the evening, as we were leaving for Big White the next day.
At dad's house I had a chance to hang out with the family. We began to load the car, had a meal together and then went to visit Greg and Sandy.
Greg and Sandy have quite possibly the largest Christmas tree I have even seen in my whole life. Greg regaled us with the tale of how they managed to get it into the house. Sandy said that she did not allow the tree to come though the front door because she had already decorated the stairway with garland and lights and did not want it disrupted.
The tree was carried by Greg and Derek up the back stairs and onto the deck. They opened the sliding door that leads from the deck into their family room. Greg and Derek then realized that the tree was not going to fit though the door. So Greg came up with a great plan to get the tree into the house. He and Derek took hold of the tree and headed to the doorway at top speed, Greg told Derek not to stop. They ploughed though the door and managed to get the tree inside, and knock over a couple of pieces of furniture.

Saturday December 23rd
We got up early and were on the road by about 9am, this was good as dad had hoped to be on the road by 9:30. I can't believe we actually got on the road early. I have never seen such an unorganized group of people in my whole life. But thanks to dad we managed to do it.
We all got into the 4runner. That's right ALL! 3 grown children in the back seat of dad's '06 4runner. I didn't go too bad though. I was supried that we all got there without killing eachother. Sam complained a lot, but we made it. I finished reading Donald Miller's "Through Painted Deserts" on the way there and began reading Kathleen Norris' "The Quotidian Mysteries" Laundry, Liturgy and 'Women's Work'" I think this one is going to be an amazing read.
After arriving and unloading we relaxed for a while in our beautiful ski in/ski out condo. Then enjoyed a meal together and headed to the village to see what was going down. We went into one of the common buildings in the villiage to discover that "Big White Idol" was going on. There were a couple of ski instructors playing instruments, and guestes were encouraged to try singing along. It was terrible, and funny! There was a cute ski instructor with dreads switching back and fourth between guitar and piano. He was neat.
After that we went back to the condo, and Sam and I discovered that there was a Christmas tree in the condo. We set it up and discovered that there were no decorations. So we spent a great deal of the night making snowflakes out of paper for decorations. We also placed homemade gingerbread men, cocktail umbrellas and candy canes on the tree...that is all we could find.

Saturday December 24th
Christmas Eve! We spent the whole day skiing. In the morning I took off with my sister and we had a pleasent morning hanging out and skiing 4 of 7 chairs on the mountain.
We met the fam for lunch. Dad, Carolle and Sam had spent the morning in the beginner area.
After lunch Amanda and I took Sam and Carolle onto the mountian. After one run with us, they decided to go back to dad.
After skiing the whole family sat in the hot tub for a while. It was very nice. Nothing wraps up a day of skiing like a hot tub and a cold beer! It was devine.
Before dinner there was a Christmas Eve parade in the village. Carolle, Sam and I went. Dad and Amanda were all tuckered out....
So the three of us bundled up, I grabbed a beer, and we headed to the village.
We stood infront of the tent that housed the ski school band. The same guys that had been playing the night before at the "Big White Idol" competition. I made eye contact with the guitar player, and I could tell that he recognized me from the night before.
The parade began and included representitives from places like the ski school, the rental shop, house keeping, skidoo tours, ski patrol etc. Even the Groomer drove though the village! During the parade I finished my beer and I decided that I wanted another one. Not wanting to walk all the way back to the condo I walked to the grocery store because it had a liquor store in the back. I decided to buy 2 single beers, one for me, and I would give the other to the hot guitar guy. Turns out the liquior store only took cash or debit, and I only had my credit card on me...no dice.
I got back to where Carolle and Sam were standing, and I noticed that Carolle was talking to a man. When I got back she said "Michelle, this is Tom" Yup she had convinced that poor guy to stand there and wait to meet me. I was a little shocked, and because of my high level of social retardedness, Tom eventually said it was nice to meet me and walked away. Carolle later told me it was a joke and Tom knew that he was standing there to weird me out.
That was pretty much it for Christmas Eve!

Sunday December 25th
Christmas Day! Carolle seemed to be more excited than us kids about Christmas, and woke us up at about 9. I told her that I would not get out of bed until there was coffee, she is a smart woman and was ready for that. There was coffee made already.
Out of bed we got and came into the living room of the condo. We did not do presents this year, but there were stocking stuffers for everyone.
Then Carole and I made a yummy Christmas day breakfast...well I think I did most of it. She threw some ready-to-bake cinamon buns in the oven. I took some left over ham from a previous dinner and some green pepper and cooked them into some scrambled eggs. Then I put the mixture into a cassaroll dish and put cheese on top and stuck it under the broiler to melt the cheese. It was an amazing meal.
We then did a half day of skiing. Amanda and I took Sam and left dad and Carolle. Amanda and I showed Sam a bit of the mountian. He did really well trying to keep up to Amanda and Amanda did really well trying to keep up with me.
After last ride, I took Amanda and Sam into the village and got us all some hot chocolate. We then returned to the condo for cocktails in the hot tub with the fam.
Carolle made an amazing Christmas dinner for us. Turkey and all the trimmings! It was delicious.

Monday December 26th
I decided to do a whole day of skiing this day and the family opted for a half day. I took off early with my iPod, and had a very enjoyable morning of riding. It was so nice to ski to music, at my pace and not have to wait for anyone to catch up. I also had a chance to talk to many interesting people on the chairlift.
After lunch I decided to meet a Snow Host in the village for an afternoon of skiing. A snow host is usually a retired person who's job it is to ski with people, show them the mountian etc.
When I arrived I was asked how old I was "because we cannot take anyone under 16" I looked at the leader guy and said "no worries...I'm 21!"
I was paired with a woman called Arleen. She was super cool! I was really looking forward to skiing the afternoon with her. We decided that because the visibility was poor we would not ski and black diamonds and just do some Blue cruisers. I was excited! Just as we were about to leave this mother waddles up with her son... I knew that nothing good was going to come of this. He was added to our group...
Arleen was amazing! She could totally keep up with me! The guy could not. We had to wait for him a lot! Oh well, I got to know Arleen better. At one point while we were waiting for the guy to catch up I asked her if she did anything in the off season to stay fit. She said that she likes to ballroom dance, roller blade and bike! I looked at her and said that I hoped to be like her when I was old. She laughed and said thanks.
She also told me about when she started skiing. She said that when she began skiing Big White it was on wooden skiis and there was only a rope tow and a t-bar on the mountian! Man has she seen changes over the years!
It was an alright couple of runs with Arleen and captain slowy. After a while the guy began to complain that he was tired, so Arleen and I brought him back to the village. Arleen dedided that she was a bit tired too, so I did a couple of more runs by myself. On one occasion up the chair I made conversation with a very nice looking snowboard instructor.
Then after those runs I met the fam for cocktails in the hot tub. Good times.

Tuesday December 27th
Packed up and headed home. Nothing overly interesting to report about this day!

So yeah...Christmas was good. I cherished the time I got to spend with my family. I also enjoyed the chance to rest, relax and do what I wanted to do.