No news is...no news.

I finally made the chicken soup today--wonderful stuff, homemade egg noodles, but every time I make them I remember just why I don't make them more often than I do. In addition, making them so rarely means that every time it's a revelation that egg noodles have not just eggs but EGGS!--more eggs than I'm strictly comfortable putting into anything that isn't brownies :).

But that's okay, I also made chocolate chip cookies. Only two eggs in chocolate chip cookies. Clearly the healthier option.

We watched the Barbarian stuff on the History Channel tonight. The part on the Vikings wasn't bad, but the part on the Goths didn't seem to have as much solid content as one would like. Plus I kept being distracted by the phenomenally bad hairpiece worn by one of the experts-in-the-field. I don't think I'm all that shallow but when it looks like you lacquered your hair to your head, it's an unfortunate thing. Then again, I was working on a quilt while I was watching and likely not paying close attention, so maybe I shouldn't criticize :).

The new ISP seems to be mostly an improvement. The connection speed is much better (we're actually getting 56 now) and not only is there someone there when you call tech support (I think I mentioned Dan's 2 1/2-hour wait with the old one before he gave up), they seem to know what they're talking about.

And I've got a little over a chapter left to read in Road to Hel. I'll want to read it again, it's been such a good read that I find myself reading instead of studying :).

The Five Question Meme

These five questions are from ladyoceanstar--thanks :).

1 - Do you feel that having children helps you be more organized or less organized?

I'm not sure it has much to do with the kids (it's hard to remember what I was like ten years ago :)). But I think that overall I am more organized now. Maybe because I have more people's things to organize? But very few things are always organized, something always gets let go--it seems like I can't keep everything in order at the same time.

2 - So far, what has been the hardest part of raising Pagan children?

Well, we actually are not raising our children to be pagan--we are raising them to be free-thinking, spiritually questioning individuals. If they eventually choose to be pagan, that's wonderful (and I think it's likely because that's what they see most); if not, that's also fine, as long as they enter their faith with their eyes wide open and with a full understanding of it.

Of course, practically speaking there's no such thing as a spiritual vacuum, nor would I want there to be. They know we are pagan, and they're welcome at rituals (they're also welcome not to attend if they choose). And I tell them what I think--things like "if anyone says their religion is the only one, they're wrong" and "there's no such thing as [the Christian] hell"--but I've also told them that it's rude to tell other people that they are wrong with regard to religion because different religions are right for different people.

It's kind of a challenge--I want my kids to be open-minded but I'm also aware that they need something to counter what they'll hear from school friends. Elder daughter's best friend is Christian (I'm not sure what denomination, but her family doesn't have a TV for religious reasons), and as far as I know they have had no conflicts on this issue. Elder daughter herself is currently somewhere between atheist and agnostic (we've stressed the role of belief--that religion isn't pretend--and she has taken it to heart); she gets pretty annoyed with all the "God stuff".at her school's holiday music program, but she deals :).

3 - If you had a chance to travel in space, would you take it? Why or why not? (I know - that's technically two questions, LOL!)

Probably. Considerations would include safety, how long I'd be gone, would I be separated from my family, etc. It's something that would interest me but it has never been a particular dream of mine--so, it would be cool to do, but not something I'd necessarily jump at the chance to do.

4 - As a child, what was your favorite book?

A Wrinkle in Time. Helped me start to form my vision of the universe. (That and Marvel Comics, lol!)

5 - Reality TV - Bane of our existance, or an interesting view into the psychology of America?

I don't really watch it much except for an occasional "Trading Spaces" or "Queer Eye". I don't think it's anything new--television has always had shows that focus on stuff like this (I read once about a show called "Queen for a Day", on in the early days of television, where contestants had to tell their life story and whoever had the most pathetic life won a washing machine or something :)). And even before television, wasn't there a magazine called "True Confessions"?

Television likes them because they are comparatively cheap--they don't have to have script writers, pay actors big bucks, etc. I've read that one reason there are so many of them now is because the networks don't have the $$ they used to have before cable, so any opportunity to cut costs is welcome.

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Want to play along? Follow these rules:
1 - Leave a comment, saying you want to be interviewed.
2 - I will respond; I'll ask you five questions.
3 - You'll update your journal with my five questions, and your five
answers.
4 - You'll include this explanation.
5 - You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be
interviewed.

And I'll be asking ladyoceanstar five questions in return :).