Overcome me bitter sweetness, put me under a magic spell

Ugh. Forgive my ever-changing blog. Decision making has never been my forte. Couple that with a new array of blog templates and mine has been changing on a daily basis to suit my mood. Bear with me while I settle into change. It's never been easy for me.

Dan and I have been relentlessly listening to Tom Petty's new album, Mojo. He's touring for it this summer and, did I mention this before? We're going to see his Chicago show on July 17th as an early anniversary celebration. Dan and I may differ in a few areas (honestly...not that many), but one thing we come together about is LIVE MUSIC. We don't spend lavishly on ourselves, go on many dates, see many movies...but when it comes to concert tickets, we spare no expense. I'm glad we see eye-to-eye on this. I think we once had the conversation that either of us would throw down $300 to see The Rolling Stones. Not just for the music, but just to say we've seen them live. (And let's not deny it...who wouldn't pay that much to see Mick Jagger dance around in a belly shirt with his hands in the air?)

Yesterday I took a 2 1/2 hour nap, accompanied by my husband. This was no snoozeroo on the couch...we actually plopped into bed and I remember mumbling right before we fell asleep, "This is a bad idea." Next thing I knew, it was 6:30pm. Neither of us go to sleep until 1:30. My gym alarm went off 3 hours and ten minutes later. I think I audibly said, "A-psyche..." and went back to sleep.

The following paragraph is intended to throw myself and my personal choices under the bus, in an attempt to make those reading feel better about themselves:
I'm really excited for two things. 1) The Bachelorette is on tonight and there's Something Going Down in Roughedge. One of the guys is found out to have a girlfriend (possibly two...zoiks!) and there's footage of Ali confronting him about it. I know who it is, so there's no real point in watching. But what girl doesn't love some juicy drama? 2) I've officially decided to read the Twilight series, thanks to my high school friend, Rita. She's now a happily married school teacher who also enjoys Harry Potter. (If you know how much I like Harry Potter, you could easily see how this common interest would impact me the way it does.) I'm forcing Dan to check the first book out for me from the library. He said he would reserve it online, but I have to go in and pick it up because he doesn't want the librarians "to think I'm gay." He said, "That would be even worse than the time I rented season 1 of The Hills on DVD for you." Poor guy.

(See? Didn't my rant about my oh-so-shallow interests make you feel better?...The Bachelorette, Twilight, Harry Potter, The Hills...and sadly, the list could go on.)

I was watching a tid-bit of some documentary about Martin Luther (or something related to the Reformation) on Sunday morning and had to change the channel because I was so frustrated. It makes my blood boil when people throw around tid-bits about the Catholic faith that aren't true. No wonder Protestants view Catholics the way they do. I think it's sheer naivity. I wasn't raised learning about Catholics and that's why I thought that they 1) thought they could earn their way into heaven, 2) had to have a priest forgive sins, 3) other such non-sensical views. I mean, I don't blame Protestants for having those beliefs - it's what's thrown about as unquestioned fact in Protestant circles, even at dear Bryan College. But going through RCIA, I had so many of those questions and misconceptions straightened out. It's sad to see the pre-conceived notions be such a division between Protestantism and Catholicism. Except for a few main issues, the faiths are so incredibly similar.

On the other hand...at one of our Bible Study meetings, Catholics from my very own church were throwing around cliches of the Protestant church and poking fun at some 100% founded beliefs. It was downright infuriating and I almost said something...and would have if the Bible Study leader hadn't brought us back on track, pronto. Growing up Protestant, I don't necessarily agree with ALL Protestant teachings, but at least I understand why Protestants believe what they believe. The confusion and assumptions about each faith create such a division, and it seems like Protestants think they know everything about Catholicism and vise versa, that nobody's patient enough to learn and understand that besides the differences, there are HUGE similarities.

In short...I love that I'm Catholic because of the beautiful and ancient Tradition I see in the Church - the fact that it's the Mother Church that Jesus taught of...the fact that if the Catholic church hadn't become corrupt in the day of Luther, there may not have been a split at all. But I cherish and adore my parents for bringing me up as a Protestant because I possess (and cling to) a close, personal and intimate relationship with the Father that many Catholics sadly lack.

Wasn't expecting that sermon. But I could go on.

Seeing as I didn't wake up until 6:45 (blast!...the best intentions sometimes fail), I didn't do any Streams In The Desert reading this morning. So in its stead, some lyrics from Tom Petty's "Something Good Coming" from his new album, Mojo. (It hits close to home, Dan!) Stop wondering and check it out!

Watching the water
Watching the coast
Suddenly I know
What I want the most

And I want to tell you
Still I hold back
I need some time
Get my life on track

I know that look on your face
But there’s something lucky about this place
And there’s something good coming
For you and me
Something good coming
There has to be

And I’m thinking about mama
And about the kids
And the way we lived
And the things we did
As she never had a chance
Never caught a break
And how we paid
For our big mistakes

I know so well the look on your face
And there’s something lucky about this place
There’s something good coming just over the hill
There’s something good coming I know it will

And I’m in for the long run
Wherever it goes
Riding the river
Wherever it goes

And I’m an honest man
Work’s all I know
You take that away
Don’t know where to go

And I know that look that’s on your face
There’s something lucky about this place
There’s something good coming
For you and me
Something good coming
There has to be