I hope 2009 was the year that finally made Jane Austen roll over in her grave.  If it didn’t happen in 2006 with the release of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly butchering the role of Elizabeth Bennet, then I’m sure the 2009 release of the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies could have done it.  But, in the off-chance she could stomach that (and not to mention Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters), then the film release of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies HAS to be the last straw.

Oh, the horror!

Becaus I haven’t read the book, I cannot critique it, but the title alone is enough to make me weep for what has happened to Austen’s work.  Really, we had to introduce zombies into my favorite story of all time?  It’s really no wonder that children (and adults) today won’t pick up a classic – or even a respectable book.  Instead we get books like Twilight, which you really don’t want to get me started on.  I certainly have my theories on the dumbing down of the American public thanks to pop culture, and these types of books and movies play right into them. 

The popularity of this book overwhelms me; it currntly ranks #67 in book sales on Amazon.  Some will say that Austen’s book is so powerful that nothing can spoil it.  However, I am a purist at heart, and the only way I want my future daughters to be introduced to this book is through the original.  Not by a zombie.

I think I’m going to force my sister to read some decent literature and turn the tide one kid at a time.  So, Erin, if you are reading this – get ready!

One of my favorite things about living in DC are the days when I drive into work.  It’s only 15 minutes, but the best part is when I get into the city.  I usually come in between 6:45 and 7:15, and at this time of year the sun is just coming up.  My route takes me along Independence Ave past the Lincoln Memorial, right along the Potomac River and along the tidal basin.  Traffic is relatively light at this time of day and I love how calm and peaceful everything seems.  It makes me wish we could suspend time right then and there and have the entire day be just as wonderful.

I haven’t taken any pictures, obviously as I’m driving.  But maybe some morning on my day off I’ll go down there and snap some pictures.  In any case, here are some images I could find online that sort of capture the moment.

This is the view from Arlington looking toward DC.

Tidal Basin with Cherry Blossoms in bloom.

The last couple weeks have been a little rough emotionally, but yesterday, I put everything aside and had a really good day.  It was a coworkers birthday, and even though we were stuck in the office on a Friday, we made the most of it.  She brought in donoughts, we had lunch at our favorite pizza place, Matchbox, checked out the DC Holiday Market, enjoyed some Georgetown Cupcakes, spread some cheer throughout the office, and yes, got a bit of work done as well!

But, the day wouldn’t have been complete without a viewing of our favorite YouTube clip we discovered last Christmas.  Everyone should watch this, because sometimes you do just have to laugh!

I can’t believe we’re heading into the final month of 2009.  This year will be one that stays with me for a long time to come.  It was an exciting year, a year full of change, and a year that made me think differently about things.  As we celebrated Thanksgiving this year, I compiled a list of all the things I’m thankful for this year.  So, here goes:

1. For my master’s degree from Georgetown.  Praise God for helping me persevere right through the end.  And I’m thankful for all the encouragement my friends gave me for all those times I wanted to pack up and quit.
2. For God’ work in the New People Ministry at Frontline.  For my awesome co-coach, a wonderful team of volunteers, and all the wins we’ve seen God accomplish through the ministry.
3. For all the new friends I’ve made this year and how they bless me in so many ways.  For all my longtime friends and all their support, encouragement and wisdom.
4. For new opportunities in my job and the chance to use some of the skills I learned at Georgetown.  And, I’m thankful for such job stability, knowing I didn’t have to ever worry about not having a job to go to. (Yes, being thankful for my job might surprise some of you, but I’m trying to be positive!)
5. For new experiences this yer: London, Paris, Savannah, Charleston, post-season Yankee baseball (yes, had to throw that in there!).
6. For the many ways that God has worked in my heart this year.  For opening my eyes to things I hadn’t seen before, for new truth revealed and for all the love that comes with it as He restores and heals.

So, there you have it.  If you haven’t already, I hope you take a chance to reflect on what you are thankful for.  If you’d care to share in the comments, I’d love to hear what you’re giving thanks for.

Let’s bring on 2010!

My friend Bindu recently posted a question on her blog: “If your life were mixed tape, what songs would be on it?”  I thought the question was a good one, and I’ve decided to bring you my own mixed tape.  I’ll preface by saying that musically, it’s all over the map (but, I tend to be that way so it makes sense).

1. You Got It (The Right Stuff) – New Kids on the Block
   I think I was seven years old when I discovered NKOTB, and why my mom let me listen to them I’ll never know.  But, I do know that I was absolutely in love with Joey McIntyre and just sure that I was going to marry him.  So, instead of You Got It, I should probably have one of Joey’s high-pitched crooners up here, such as Please Don’t Go Girl.  And to add more weight as to why NKOTB is on this list, I saw them twice in concert in 2008 – once while standing in the rain at the Today Show and then when they came through DC on their tour. (Yes, I am crazy!)
2. Walkin’ After Midnight – Patsy Cline
   My list just wouldn’t be complete without this song.  As a child, whenever my cousin Rachelle and I would ride in my grandma’s car, Pasty Cline’s Greatest Hits album would have to be playing.  For some reason, as little girls, Rachelle and I loved listening to this.  We each had a favorite song.  My grandma loved Crazy, Rachelle would sing out to Back in Baby’s Arms, and I would belt out Walkin’ After Midnight.  A couple years ago I ended up buying this album on iTunes so I could recreate some childhood memories!
3. More Than a Feeling – Boston / Iron Man – Black Sabbath / Kryptonite – 3 Doors Down
   Yes, I know there are three songs here, but they sort of go together.  My junior year of high school, I met one of my good friends, Tiffany.  She was definitely different than the rest of the girls at Stanton High School, and after awhile we became attached at the hip.  Tiffany infused a little classic rock into my life.  We used to cruise back and forth to Omaha in her HUGE 1984 Buick listening to More than a Feeling and Kryptonite with the windows rolled down, wind blowing in our hair.  And how does Iron Man fit in?  Well, we figured out the melody line on our saxaphones much to our band director’s (and probably everyone else’s) annoyance!
4. Iowa State Fight Song
   This is kind of lame, but I really couldn’t think of any other song that represented my college years.  While I may have had grand ideas on where I wanted to go to college, I’m so glad that I chose ISU.  First off, it was just big enough for me to get lost in the crowd (something that never happens in a small town), and secondly, it was a life changing experience that helped shape who I am today.  I discovered Jesus in college, made lifelong friends and solidified my life goals and pursuits.  So, this one’s cheesy, but just go with it.
5. My Stupid Mouth – John Mayer
   This song is on here for two reasons.  One: Just like Mayer in this song, I have a tendency to stick my foot in my mouth, say things I don’t really mean, or just completely mess up what I say.  This is why I went to print journalism rather than broadcast.  It would be horrible!  Two:  I discovered John Mayer in college, and this song quickly became my favorite.  I probably traumatized my friend Amy because everytime she got in my car this cd would be playing.  Oddly, enough, six years later, John Mayer is still the cd in my car.  Some things never change.
6. Breakaway – Kelly Clarkson
   The first time I ever really listened to this song, I was immediately struck that it was all about me!  Here’s a sample of the lyrics: “Grew up in a small town / And when the rain would fall down / I’d just stare out my window / Dreaming of what could be . . . And I’ll make a wish / Take a chance / Make a change / And breakaway.”  As I moved away from Iowa on my own, first to Dallas and then on to DC, I felt that I made my own changes in life and did my own “breakaway.”
7. O Praise Him – David Crowder Band
   Not long after I started attending Frontline at McLean Bible Church, David Crowder Band put this song out.  I absolutely love this band; they are probably my favorite Christian group.  And this song to me is what it’s all about, to just praise God and the joyous noise we will be giving up to God in heaven.  I sometimes joke that I want David Crowder Band to have their own stage in heaven, because I’m going to be camped out right by them for eternity!
8. Say It Right – Nelly Furtado
   This song isn’t so much about what Nelly is singing about, but more about where I was when I first discovered this song.  I associate it with my mission trip to Romania, even though I heard the song in Budapest.  We were on the tail end of the trip, our last night to be exact, and had to leave for the airport at 4 in the morning.  So most of us decided that we would stay awake the entire night so we’d sleep on the long flight back to DC.  Well, if this was your last night in Europe and you were going to be awake anyway, you might as well explore the city at night, right?  A group of us ended up walking around the city the entire night.  We made a pit stop at what we thought was a jazz cafe on the isalnd in the middle of the Danube River.  Turns out it was a raving night club, and this song happened to be playing when we stopped and it just stuck with me.  I’d probably rank this night up there as one of the most memorable times in my life!
9. Glory Revealed – Candi Pearson-Shelton
   This song really spoke to me while I was in Burma.  One morning I was outside doing my quiet time.  Really, I was skimming through the book of Isaiah, when I came to chapter 40.  Verses 3-5 struck me as what we were doing in Burma:  A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Our main objective was prayer walking on that trip, essentially preparing the way for the Lord.  Well, I soon realized that the CD our leaders had made for us had this song on it that is based on Isaiah 40.  It was really fitting, and everytime I listen to it, I’m brought back to our time in the mountains of Burma, where we literally forged our own path for God.
10. Home – Michael Buble
    This song is for all the times I’ve wanted to just pack my bags and jump on the next flight to Iowa.  For as much as I love living in DC and wouldn’t trade it for the world, when I’m home in Iowa, my stress melts away and I can just relax.  I probably sleep most of the time I’m home.  While getting my master’s at Georgetown, I made plans to go home at the end of every semester.  I went home more often in those two years than I ever had before.
11. Perfectly Lonely – John Mayer
    Yes, of course John Mayer is on here twice.  If I didn’t know that certain people would give me flack over it, I’m pretty sure all the songs could be John Mayer songs.  Well, this on is off his new album that came out last week.  And for those who know me well, you’d know the lyrics of this song sort of describe the self-imposed state of my heart right now.  But don’t think it’s too depressing, the song ends on a hopeful note, which is where I’m headed as well!

So, I’m going to continue Bindu’s question – if you had a mixed tape of your life, what would be on it?  And to answer Bindu’s other question – no I don’t have a theme to mine.  I told you it would be random!

Today must have been my lucky day.

This morning John Mayer pre-sale tickets went on sale, and guess who had the pre-sale code.  Yep, I scored 10th row seats for his concert in DC in February.  Can we just speed up the next few months please?

And then this afternoon I received an email from my apartment building’s concierge letting me know I had a package waiting for me.  Now, the only package I was expecting wasn’t supposed to come until Tuesday . . . John Mayer’s new album, Battle Studies.  As luck would have it, I got my CD three days before it’s released in stores.  I’ve been waiting for this CD for months, followed its progress on Mayer’s Battle Studies blog, ordered it the day it was available for pre-order, and even took a sneak peek listen on Rhapsody last week.

I have to say, I think John Mayer knows how to take care of his fans!  Of course, I’m listening to it as I write this, and it’s just as great as I had hoped it would be.

It's just as great as I expected!

Just 30 minutes ago, DC sniper, John Allen Muhammad was executed in Virginia.  In 2002, the DC region spent three weeks in fear that they might be gunned down while doing everyday things such as pumping gas, shopping or mowing the lawn.  Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo were convicted, but while Malvo received live without parole, Muhammad was sentenced to death.

This has been a big story in DC this week, especially as the Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal and Governor Tim Kaine denied a stay of execution.

While reading all the stories, I felt a range of emotions.  I remember the feelings of sadness I felt for the victims back in 2002 as I could only watch the horror unfold on television from my house in Iowa – never realizing that I’d end up living in the same area three years later.  I read tales of the victims families who were still processing their grief.  Some who were obviously grief-stricken with the belief that only by watching Muhammad die, would they be able to move on.  And others who wanted nothing to do with the events in the death chamber tonight.

And today, as the Washington Post ran a story about how exactly Muhammad would die, I could only feel sorry for this man.  At 4:00 this afternoon, I thought to myself what would I do if I knew I only had five hours left to live.  What would my thoughts be?  Does he feel remorse?  Is he afraid?  If one of my family members had been a victim, could I forgive him?  All I could do was pray for him.

If you would have asked me in 2002 whether I thought he deserved the death penalty, I would have answered with a resounding yes!  But today, my view is a little more cloudy.

Muhammad and Malvo did horrific things, and I believe they needed to be punished by society.  But, I am torn in my belief over what is the fullest extent of the law.  Should the government be in the business of taking lives?  I’m not so sure that it should.

I know that God has worked out everything according to His plan.  But if Muhammad had not been executed tonight, at some point in his life might he have come to know Jesus?  I’ve heard some amazing stories out of the prison fellowship ministry.  Would he too have repented and been forgiven of ALL his sins, so matter how terrible they were?

I’ll never know the answer, but it makes me pause when considering the death penalty.  In the past three years, my heart has softened and my view of humanity is different, and I can see Muhammad as a human being, not just a killer.  I’ve realized that anyone can be redeemed through Christ.  Shouldn’t we at least allow them the opportunity in their lifetime?

While at a housewarming party this weekend, I was asked two questions that I dread answering.  The first: where are you from? I hate this question because when I answer “Iowa,” I normally get the shocked look that says, “wow, I didn’t think people actually live there.”

The second question came a little while later: “so, Jenny, what do people do in Iowa?”  Seriously?  What do we do, as in what do we do on a daily basis, for fun, for work . . .?  As this isn’t the first time I’ve gotten this questions, I’ve learned to control my astonishment that someone (a grown man, no less) would actually ask this question.  Since we were playing a game, I just responded that probably at that exact same moment someone in Iowa was playing the exact same game.

But the more I think about the frequency in which I get asked this question, I begin to be troubled and worried for people.  I’m not saying that you have to go visit Iowa, but don’t be naive enough to think that Iowa is any different from any other part of the country. Sure, it’s no New York of Los Angeles,  but shockingly enough we do have cities, shopping malls and grocery stores, airports and great schools and colleges.

I’m going to go on record as saying that “Iowa is NOT one big cornfield.”

You can quote me on that.

I may have grown up on a farm, near a small town and attended a very small school.  But apparently that very small school gave me a better world view than your big city school that must have forgotten to teach you that there is an America between the east and west coasts.

OMG! We even have roads in Iowa too!

I. Am. In. Love.

I think I might have a problem; I’m addicted to books.  You might remember this post from April 10 where I expressed my undying love for a set of the most beautiful books I’d ever seen.  I may have spoken too soon because Penguin Classics and designer Coralie Bickford-Smith are at it again with a second collection of books.

We’ve got 10 more books to enjoy, and you can get them all from Waterstone’s in the UK.  Unfortunately, they are a bit pricey buying them in British pounds, and the Chapters Indigo site in Canada only has six out of ten books.  I may have to wait until they come out in the U.S., as the first set comes out tomorrow on Amazon.

Or, maybe I’ll splurge and get them anyway! This set includes:

• The Hound of the Baskervilles
• Oliver Twist
• Emma
• The Odyssey
• The Woman in White
• Treasure Island
• The Sonnets and a Lover’s Complaint (Shakespeare)
• Lady Chatterley’s Lover
• Little Women
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass

Yeah, I think I really need these. They’ll look so great next to the other set. 

The original set, which looks great on my shelf!

Just a short post to say Happy Halloween! I spent the night carving pumpkins.  While I’m quite proud of this guy, you have to admit the peeping-tom quality is slightly creepy!  My roommate carved a slightly friendlier, yet sinister pumpkin.