MMX is coming! MMX is coming!

2010.

2010?

2010!

Think about that for a minute. Maybe you have already, I don't know. Maybe you've thought about it for most of the day today and are still thinking about it.

2010 sounds like something we used to read about in science fiction stories. Wasn't there a movie called "2010: A Space Odyssey"?

To me it just sounds odd. It's like a new shirt you just bought at the store, all stiff and new and uncomfortable. Then you wash it once or twice and it fits better, feels better. You get used to it. Somehow I have a feeling that's the way 2010 will feel after a month or so.

Have you thought about your New Year's resolutions yet? I have. In no particular order:

2009 was a wasted year for me as far as following my daily Bible reading schedule. Quiet time? What is that? I resolve to make a conscious effort to get into the Word each and every day. First thing I want to do before I get into the hectic, frenetic pace of life.

The last few months of 2009 I effectively ignored my blog, instead opting for the evil and addicting Twitter and Facebook. I know these web sites aren't really evil. In fact they are a pretty darn good thing. I've been able to reconnect with people on Facebook I knew from 20 years ago and earlier. People whom I should never have lost contact with in the first place. I've also been able to talk to people in other parts of the world, that I've never met face to face. Despite it's usefulness and benefits, I resolve to spend less time using Twitter and Facebook and more time blogging. Maybe not once a day as I did when I started blogging here, but definitely more than I have in the last few months. I like writing and blogging gives me an outlet to do that. While some have decided to stop blogging in 2009, I'm pulling a reverse - full steam ahead!

For years I've been saying how I want to be a published author. Now is time to put the pedal to the metal. I resolve to work on my writing, so that I can have at least one, maybe two, marketable manuscripts by the end of 2010.

I need to do something about my living situation. I resolve to move someplace more budget friendly this year. (Someplace warmer, too!)

I've been divorced since April 2004, which means I've now been single way too long. I resolve to start dating this year. Who knows where that will lead.

I've ended 2009 with a bit of self-inflicted bad news. But I can't let that get me down. I'll deal with it, hopefully learn (again) from it, and move on. No matter what the situation I'm in, I resolve to remain positive and upbeat this year. I really am blessed. I'm healthy, have a wonderful family and awesome friends, both in real life and in the world of cyberspace.

Maybe I'll think of more resolutions to add later. Good night. Happy New Year everyone. God Bless.

Christmas 2009

Hard to believe but it's Christmas again. The years seem to go by so fast. Didn't we just celebrate last Christmas like, yesterday?

One thing you'll always find aplenty is Christmas art. Stylized scenes of mangers and wise men and bright stars, shepherds in the fields, angels proclaiming the good news that the Savior was born in Bethlehem. In a cave, laid in a manger.



Truth is, no one really knows for sure when Jesus was born and it doesn't really matter. Not knowing the specific date doesn't take away the importance of the historical fact of Jesus birth or its significance. The important thing is that once a year the event is remembered, commemorated and celebrated. And that chosen date is today, December 25^th. It is, and always will remain, one of the two most important holidays on the calendar that make up the core of Christian belief.

Merry Christmas everyone.

For your information and mine, here is an article that addresses the issue better than I could, with other helpful links included.

Lyrics for two of the most notable Christmas songs are given below.

"Silent Night"

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

"O Little Town of Bethlehem"

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

Welcome to winter.

Damn, do I hate this time of year. For the cold and snow only, mind. Otherwise, I like it just fine.

Yes that's right, the Winter Solstice happened this afternoon, at 12:47 EST.

On the bright side, the days will now begin to get longer.

Brittany Murphy (1977-2009)

From the "You Just Can Never Tell When Your Time Is Up" files, the sad and tragic passing of 32 year old actress Brittany Murphy, of apparent cardiac arrest.

It will be interesting to hear about the results of the autopsy report and what might have caused the heart attack in an otherwise apparently healthy young woman. Hopefully it's just a freak thing and it won't be a drug-abuse, or drug overdose induced death.

I always find it incredibly sad when I read about people dying who are younger than myself.

The movie I remember her most from was the excellent "Don't Say a Word" that she starred in with Michael Douglas in 2001. She will likely be best remembered for her voice-over work as Luanne Platter on "King of the Hill" from 1997-2009.

We haven't heard the last from Brittany, as she's got three films in post-production that are scheduled for release in 2010.

UPDATE: Here's a bit more on her death. According to this, her husband told the hospital that he didn't want them to do an autopsy but didn't give a reason. (Unusual request. What's he hiding? Ooh, answers to the official cause of death questions just got more interesting.) The LA County Coroner's Office is going to do an autopsy anyway, which they should due to her age.

2/4/10 UPDATE: Pneumonia, drugs killed Brittany Murphy. Death ruled accidental.

SNMR: Time off for the holidays

I've decided that the Saturday Night Movie Review (SNMR) column will take December off. I'll be back reviewing more great movies starting Saturday, January 2, 2010. See you then.

Happy Holidays, people.