Sunday Morning

I like to start my Sunday mornings with a cup of coffee and Sunday Morning - the CBS show, that is.

Hosted by the bow-tie wearing Charles Osgood, Sunday Morning provides in depth reporting on stories that you don't normally hear about, interesting commentaries, and interviews that go beyond the pandering entertainment show fare. This past Sunday, for example, Sunday Morning explained all this "Tea Party" jazz that's going on, showed the largest pilgrimage on earth (nope, not the one to Mecca, but one I'd never heard of before), shared footage of a breathtaking new orchestra/film concert that made me want to go to Houston to see it, and highlighted a project to photograph America's endangered species.

Bill Geist's travels around the country to turkey-calling contests, "Hot Dog U," and the Sisters of the Holy Spirit bakery right here in Cleveland make me chuckle. Did you know that the Sisters of the Holy Spirit bake cookies for the Cleveland Indians? Other regulars on the show include Mo Rocca and Ben Stein.

Sunday Morning is a softer, gentler news show and I find it to be a peaceful way to start my day. I wish there was a Sunday Morning every day of the week. The regular morning shows jump so quickly from one topic to the next that I'm already racing before my day starts.

The show ends with a minute or two of beautiful nature footage. No commentary, no music...just birds chirping, breezes blowing or water trickling. When this peaceful moment ends, it's time for me to leave for church, and I'm in just the right frame of mind to worship.

Orange Is the New Black

I received an advance copy of Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman through a goodreads.com contest.

Unfortunately for Ms. Kerman, the James Frey debacle led me to approach this book more skeptically than I might have otherwise. I found the circumstances of her crime rather hard to believe, especially when she recounts a meeting with the woman who caused her downfall. During this meeting, she quotes the woman as saying, "Sort of chilly for a marg?" Who has ever shortened the word margarita as anything other than 'rita???

That aside, I was compelled by the description of her conviction and time in prison. Despite the fact that she did commit a crime, I found the fact that the criminal justice system forced her to wait six years for sentencing to fall under the category of "cruel and unusual." By the time she was sentenced and self-surrendered to prison, the mistakes of her youth were long behind her. What sense did it make to punish her then?

Even more heart-breaking was reading about the deplorable lack of services available to help the women she served time with to return to the outside world with any chance of success. It's no wonder recidivism rates are so high.

Ms. Kerman's book brings to light the lack of "corrections" in our correctional system. I would much rather see my tax dollars being used to provide training and instruction that could lead prisoners that can be rehabilitated to productive, healthy lives after their incarcerations.

Good Times

There is nothing like curling up with a good book, a warm blanket, a cup of tea and maybe a kitty or two. That's what I did yesterday while I was home nursing a nasty sinus headache.

Over the past year or so, I've discovered some authors whose work I'm really enjoying. Thought I'd share in case you are looking for a good read. If you've read any of the following, I'd love to hear your thoughts - or offer up your own suggestions!

A. Lee Martinez - I'm currently reading A Nameless Witch and loving it. What's not to love about a book with talking demonic duck? His other books look intriguing as well.

Ted Dekker - I'm currently listening to Kiss in the car and loving that too. I've read a number of his books lately (including Black, Red, White and Green) and have enjoyed them all. He has a unique imagination, that's for sure.

Shanna Swendson - The Enchanted Inc. series is nothing short of delightful. Quick, fun reads.

Carrie Bebris - So far, I've only read her series of mysteries that take place where Pride and Prejudice leave off, but I am eager to read other books she's written.

Karen Miller/K.E. Mills - I've been devouring her books. She's a great fantasy writer. One series is blood-soaked and full of violence, another has a dash of humor. Something for everyone.

Lisa Shearin - She created one of the most kick-ass female characters in Raine Benares. I've read the whole series and am looking forward to the new one coming soon.

Tanya Egan Gibson - I found How to Buy a Love of Reading in the bargain bin. Powerful and touching. Could not put it down.

Cinda Williams Chima - I recommend her for Harry Potter fans that are looking for something similar.

That's all for now. Lost is about to start! Peace out.

Held Prisoner By My ISP

I really don't know what to do.

I'm considering a change in internet service providers, but I don't want to have to change my e-mail address. That's harder to change than your mailing address!

The legislation making cell phone numbers portable from one carrier to another really helped consumers. I think Congress needs to step in and do the same for e-mail addresses.

In the mean time, I'm feeling frustrated and stuck. ARGH!

Five Random Things That Make Me Happy

- Looking at the stars

- Being appreciated

- The fact that someone finally likes my singing (I don't care if he's only 9 months old; it still counts!)

- Earning the trust of an animal

- Hazelnut coffee

The Olympics

The Winter Olympics came to a close last night, and I'm still wondering about the Olympic spirit in America. I didn't feel that much excitement about the Olympics, unlike there seemed to be while I was growing up.

Was the excitement there, and I missed it? Or are things different now that we have so many more viewing choices? Perhaps it's just easier to ignore the Olympics.

Or is our society so fragmented into liberal vs. conservative, pro-war vs. anti-war, this side of an issue vs. that side of an issue, that we can't rally as a nation any more?

Is NBC's poor coverage of the Games to blame? I could not believe the disrespect shown by the network, abruptly ending their coverage of the Closing Ceremony to lead into a new program.

I was glad to see Canada win the gold medal in men's hockey because it means more to them than it does to us. Frankly, I'm not sure winning that medal would mean anything to U.S. citizens, a far cry from the excitement over The Miracle of 30 years ago.

I believe that my parents instilled the Olympic spirit in me. When I watch the Games, I feel pride for our athletes and peace at seeing the world come together for a time. I enjoy hearing the human interest stories about various athletes and teams. My parents followed the Olympics closely this time, as they always do, giving me updates on what I missed while I was at work. My mom even took off work to watch the women's gold medal hockey game!

How about you? Did you have the Olympic spirit?

A Best Friend

I don't think people really know what a best friend is. Some people throw this term around too loosely; others claim never to have had one. I consider myself beyond fortunate to have the BEST best friend. Sometimes I feel a little junior high-ish describing her as such, but there's really no other way to put it. She's not just a friend, or even a good friend. Saying "the sister God didn't give me" might be a little closer to the mark, but even that doesn't cover it.

My best friend knows me better than I know myself sometimes...well, more often than sometimes. I tell her everything - my deepest fears, my silliest worries, my smallest victories, my most random observations - and even the things I really hate to admit. I know I can tell her these things because a best friend doesn't judge. Ever. A best friend accepts you for who you are. NO. MATTER. WHAT. And if they can't? Well, then that person wasn't really your best friend to begin with.

My best friend knows when and how to push me to be better than I am. I think back to teammates on two Biggest Loser teams that claimed to be best friends on a recent season. On both teams, one "best friend" let the other down. That's not what best friends do. I would rather die than let my best friend down.

A best friend shuttles your family members back and forth to the hospital when one of your loved ones is seriously ill. A best friend puts your cat's ashes in an urn when you can't bear to do it yourself. A best friend stays in the hospital with you overnight when the delivery of your child isn't going smoothly. A best friend drives four hours to tell you in person that your boyfriend asked her to sleep with him. (Note: a best friend does NOT sleep with your boyfriend and then take you on Jerry Springer to tell you about it.) A best friend burps your baby even if babies scare the crap out of her. A best friend volunteers to learn how to change diapers so you can get some sleep even if she's vowed to go to her grave without ever having changed one. And a best friend, knowing what it took for you to offer, says that's OK, you don't have to.

These are all things that my best friend and I have done for each other. I thank God every single day for my best friend. I don't know what I'd do without her.

Thanks for everything Chris!