The "Mindy" to My "Mork"

Most people who know me know that I've been a fan of the classic sci-fi sitcom Mork & Mindy for well over a decade.  Ever since seeing reruns on Fox Family back in 1999, I've been quoting the show, using "Na nu, na nu!" as a greeting, and exclaiming "Shazbot!" when things go wrong.  For those who haven't heard of the show, Mork & Mindy aired on ABC from 1978 to 1982.  Mork (played by Robin Williams) was an alien who crash-landed in Boulder, CO while on an assignment to study Earth customs.  The first Earthling he meets is Mindy McConnell, a beautiful college student.  Mork naïvely moves in with Mindy, not realizing what him living with her appears like to those who don't know he is an alien.  Over the show's four seasons, Mork got into one misadventure after another, usually caused by his lack of understanding of our planet.  Usually, Mindy had to explain to him how things really worked on this terrestrial ball.  It's a hilarious show, and, in my opinion, it makes more modern network sitcoms such as Friends or Everybody Loves Raymond look like Teletubbies.
Although I've watched and loved situation comedies ranging from The Andy Griffith Show to Growing Pains to Home Improvement to VICTORiOUS to That's So Raven to even the little-known, single-season Complete Savages, Mork & Mindy has had a hold on me that no other show has been able to match.  It isn't just the sheer hilarity of the show, or Robin Williams' utter zaniness; it's because, in many ways, Mork is like me.  Seriously, although he was an alien from a fictional planet, he acted in a very autistic way.  Consider the following:

• Mork often asked questions about idiosyncrasies of the planet, such as, "Why do they call it 'rush hour' when nothing moves?" I've always wondered similar things; even as a kid, when I read The Extinct Alphabet Book, and it had the coleacanth under the letter "C," but mentioned that it had been discovered that it wasn't extinct, and said it "should not even be in this book!" My first response was, "Then, why is it?"
• Mork sometimes made people upset without realizing what he was doing or saying; for example, he once got into an argument with Mindy just because he'd heard from a friend that you "kiss and make up" after such an altercation.  However, Mork's earthling roommate had no idea why he was acting in such a way, and got really infuriated with him.  I've had almost the exact same thing happen; I've said things in an attempt to make people laugh, but ended up doing nothing but enraging them.
• Mork often had trouble understanding the world in general, and needed people (usually Mindy) to explain to him what was really going on.  The same is true for me; I've always had trouble with human tradition at large, and am eternally grateful kind, patient individuals--especially my mother--for helping me to comprehend them.

It's no surprise that "Morko" has been one of my favorite sitcom characters for many years.  I know it's just television, but, I got to thinking today: If I'm like Mork, then, if I ever get married, my wife should be like Mindy! No, I'm not searching for a Pam Dawber look-alike; that's not what I mean.  Instead, what I'm trying to get at is: Since I have always had trouble understanding the ways, customs, beliefs, and behaviors of the denizens of our planet, I would need a significant other who could help me understand them.  My mom has been great at that, for sure, but I can't depend on her forever.  I've become better over the years at comprehending human behavior, but recent incidences have shown that I still have some work to do.  Could there be a woman out there--either coeval or a "cougar"--who could do that for me? That, I don't know, but I sure hope there is.  Frankly, I think a "Mindy" is what this "Mork" has needed all along.
Any comments?

The Best Song You've Never Heard (Or Maybe You Have?)

Avid television-watchers around my age or older might remember the sporadic ABC show The Best Commercials You've Never Seen...and Some You Have.  The program was intended to showcase lesser-known TV advertisements that were unusually clever, funny, strange, original, etc., instead of the regular monotony during station breaks.  Though the show had some rather unfortunate moments, I admire its intention; many times, original works of all forms get overlooked in favor of the same recycled garbage.
I bring that up for one reason: There is a song that I have loved for years now, but I've never met anyone else who has heard it, mostly because it's largely unknown in the States.  In 2006, my mom purchased UK artist Michael Ball's Live at the Royal Albert Hall CD, which, as usual for Mr. Ball, primarily consisted of cover songs.  This particular album had Michael's take on everything from "Love on the Rocks" to "Gethsemane" (from Jesus Christ Superstar) to even a medley of Blues Brothers songs.  Although I liked almost all of the songs on it, one stood out: "Something Inside So Strong".  Not only did the lyrics just scream me, but the sound was great, too.  Upon further research, I found out that it was originally written by Labi Siffre, and has been covered by everyone from the Dublin Gospel Choir to Anglo techno spinners Dance to Tipperary to even Kenny Rogers, whose version is in the YouTube video below.  Maybe I'm just weird, but I think the song is great; I've always liked songs that talk about overcoming adversity, including Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It," "Can't Back Down" from Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, Kerrie Roberts' "Outcast," and even "Step Up" from the Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Movie soundtrack.  This song goes right along with them; it says to any jerks who are 100% against what I like and/or do, "You may oppose me, but I will win!" With the way I've been treated my entire life, that's the kind of message I need.  Enjoy the song!

This Is Just Too Much

One thing probably everyone who has ever known me has probably noticed is that I operate in extremes.  I'm either doing something way too much or not nearly enough; I'm either giving it my all or putting forth as little effort as possible; if I know about it, I either adore it or intensely despise it.  It's always been hard for me to do things in moderation, and attempts to get me to do so when I was younger were often met with an angry, defiant response.  Yes, my regularly mentioned obsessions with shows, celebrities, computer/video games, etc., are all part of that.  Still, there's something else that I have been doing in serious excess for about two years, and I either need to keep it to a minimum or just end it entirely.  Is it sinful? No, and it wouldn't be a problem if it didn't smack of an addiction.  What is it? I can only think of one way to describe it: Reading "girly" books.
Here's how it all started: Over the past few years, I've had a personal rule that I alternate the genres of books I read: one that's science fiction/fantasy, and one that doesn't fall into that category.  The latter could be anything from an action/adventure novel to historical fiction to a mystery to a legal thriller, and, up until summer of 2009, it usually was one or more of them.  However, what changed everything two years ago was finding a Christian novel called Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson.  The cover even said it was the premiere novel in a series called Weddings by Bella, which would send most guys--normally including me--running the other way.  Nonetheless, there was something about that book that just made me want to read it, and the hilarious beginning took away all the thoughts of, "Why am I reading this?" I went on to read the entire trilogy, and even got other novels by Mrs. Thompson, many of which also were nuptial-themed.
As the months went by, I discovered other female-oriented books and book series, usually under the banner of Christian fiction.  Even over the past year, I've been reading novels intended for teenage girls, and, no, they weren't sci-fi/fantasy! While that's been going on, many of my non-"girly", non-sci-fi, non-fantasy books have sat on my shelf, barely even being touched other than to be rearranged to make room for other books that do fit into one or more of those categories.  Although I've still kept that aforementioned, genre-alternating rule in place, it's practically turned into: One sci-fi/fantasy novel and one "girly" novel.  Reading such literature would be great in moderation, but to do it in excess is quite the problem.
What I wonder is: How do I stop it? I don't want to give up on experiencing such novels completely; as long as I like it and it isn't causing me to sin, what's wrong with it? I'd like to think it would be easier to curb now that I've officially finished the young adult twelve-novel Sierra Jensen series, which I've been working through since February; yet, there are plenty of other similarly-themed books out there, including at yard sales.  Even some of the novels that might seem "girly" aren't when you actually read them; the first three novels in Karen Kingsbury's Bailey Flanigan tetralogy each devote several chapters to the thoughts, experiences, and actions of Cody Coleman, a male character and romantic interest of the title character who was introduced in Kingsbury's previous works.  (That may sound weird, but think about Lizzie McGuire; remember how much time was spent showcasing her little brother Matt's zany adventures, which usually had little to do with Lizzie's tween issues?)  Previous attempts to ditch other addictions have always proved futile; I hope this one won't, but I'd like to know what you think.

You Don't Even Know the Meaning of the Word

One Sunday morning during the summer of 2002, in my middle school Bible class, our regular teacher was out, so we were taught by a married couple whom all us junior high kids knew.  As one of the teachers was going over the lesson, she asked one of my classmates a question...but he/she must not have been paying attention, because he/she proceeded to ask, "What was the question again?" Everyone started laughing, including me, and I even went as far as to say to that kid, "You ignoramus!" At that, the entire class got quiet, and one of the teachers looked at me sternly and reprimanded me, saying, "[Siobhan], uh-uh.  There will be no name calling when I'm in charge."  I thought, What's your problem?! [He/she] ignored the question! Even after I got home, I turned on Super Smash Bros. Melee and played in multi-player mode with my character versus a computer-controlled Link and Zelda, whom I pretended was that married couple who had taught our class, and beat the snot out of them.  It wasn't until later that day, when my mom explained what the term "ignoramus" really meant--someone who is ignorant, not someone who ignores someone else--that I realized that I actually had made an inappropriate statement.
I bring that up for one reason: Whether used correctly or incorrectly, words have power.  I've always been a fan of little-known words; even with this blog, people have asked me about the meanings or usages of advanced terms such as "inane" or "coeval".  In years past, people have said that I "talk like a dictionary," sometimes even asking me to use simpler terms; I once was describing the fact that I have an astigmatism in one eye, and the only way I could get the other person to understand what I was trying to tell him/her was saying, "One eye doesn't work like it should."  Another time, a teacher was trying to describe my mental condition to a classmate, and used the word "autistic" to do so, but that kid kept saying, "Use small words!" The teacher glared at him/her and said, "There's no other word for it!"
That brings me to the point I want to make: One thing I've noticed is that repetition annoys people.  Whether it's a person who always says the same thing(s), an electronic device that--for whatever reason--repeats a sound over and over again, or an animal that won't stop making noise, people find that bothersome.  However, in recent years, I've noticed that people in general have become unable to express themselves without using profanities and/or euphemisms for them.  I was once sitting in the lounge at my college, trying to have an instant message conversation with a friend via the school's wireless, and had to go somewhere else because some young lady was on her cell phone ranting about some little girl--her little sister? her daughter? her niece? I may never know--wetting the bed, all the while using at least one profanity in each sentence.  As I was walking out, I thought to myself, Woman, you need to find some better words to express your feelings! Unfortunately, people like her are everywhere, and it only seems to be getting worse.
What I wonder is: Why aren't people annoyed by the overuse of profanity? If folks get bothered by a sitcom character using the same catchphrase in every episode, or a person whose only likes to talk about a select few things, or a radio station that plays the same songs every day, why doesn't the overuse of expletives do the same to them? Granted, I was raised in a house where the usage of such language led to punishment, which helped me learn to use other words (including so-called "dictionary talk") to express my feelings, so maybe I'm a bit biased...but I still feel that there are way too many people out there with small vocabularies.
In conclusion, let me say this: One tendency the denizens of this planet all seem to have is the desire for a "one size fits all" solution.  When a kid is acting up, or a computer is being troublesome, we look for one action we can take that will solve whatever issue(s) 100% of the time.  Unfortunately, that's rarely the case; whether it involves people, technology, or neither, there is usually a list of solutions that may or may not work.  The same is true for words; no matter what is going on in our lives, or what feeling(s) we want to express, we tend to turn to the same sayings--whether profane or not--almost every time.  You've probably noticed I have some catchphrases, such as, "In conclusion, let me say this," or, "It's story time again."  Sometimes, I wonder if people get tired of me using the same words or phrases all the time; however, everyone talks and writes in his/her own way, so, of course, that's just my trademark.  I grew weary of profanity years ago; after being bombarded with it upon starting middle school, it went from shocking to just repetitive and unoriginal.  Sure, using advanced language may not be everyone's strong suit, but, shouldn't everyone try to expand their horizons?
Any comments?

Happy Victoria Day! (Seriously!)

Smile; it's YOUR day!

So, my many wall calendars say that today is Victoria Day.  Yes, I know; this is actually a Canadian holiday in honor of Queen Victoria, but, being the huge Victoria Justice fan that I am, I can't help but think of my favorite actress today.  Some of you might have noticed that the majority of my recent posts have been me speaking out in my own defense; I definitely need a break from that, so, instead, I'll go back to my roots and tell the story of how Victoria Justice and Jennifer Stone became my top two favorite celebrities.

There were two big events in March 2010 that started me down the path.  The first was watching Spectacular!, a Nickelodeon original musical comedy/drama that Vic starred in alongside Tammin Sursok and Nolan Gerard Funk.  Although I didn't know much about any of the actors in the movie, I still said this in my review: "Still, I would have liked Victoria Justice to play the good girl rather than the villain, because she's way better-looking than the girl who actually played the heroine." Later that month, the pilot of VICTORiOUS aired just after the Kids Choice Awards.  (Ironically, that was the same night that Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars premiered on Disney Channel; more on that later.)  My official statement about it on Facebook was, "Victorious was a mess, with weird, unrealistic characters, and plenty of over-acting...but I LOVED IT!" Little did I know what was going to happen quite soon.

The rest of the year proved to be quite eventful for me celebrity-wise.  Of course, we all know the story of the trailer for Love and Other Drugs; however, that wasn't all that happened.  Towards the end of the year, I checked out Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars from the library.  I really wasn't expecting much; although Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs) are usually cute and family-friendly, they also tend to lack enough substance to warrant multiple viewings.  The main reason I reserved the DVD was the lead actress, Jennifer Stone; she intrigued me, and I wanted to find out more about her.  This may sound weird, but her name made her all the more mystifying; Jennifer Stone was also the name of the villainess (that is, the character, not the actress who played her) in Cadet Kelly.  So, a Disney Channel actress who shares her name with a DCOM antagonist? Sounded great to me!  Blog Wars ended up being much better than I expected; I liked it so much, I've watched it two or three times since I got it as a birthday gift last year.  Of course, I continued catching new episodes of VICTORiOUS when I could.

The REAL Jen Stoney!

In January 2011, I felt that a change was in order.  Anne Hathaway had been my number-one favorite celebrity for almost six years, but her career and life seemed to be headed down the tubes, and I was getting a little tired of her myself.  The same was true for runner-up Ashley Tisdale; one look at even the promotional materials for her show Hellcats, not to mention the dreadful film that was Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure, and the fact that I found out about her only days after discovering Anne, meant that they were just getting old.  I had a number of female celebrities I liked--my favorites list ranged from Siobhan Magnus to Rebecca St. James to Demi Lovato to Amy Adams--but Victoria Justice was just pushing her way into my heart, as was Jennifer Stone.  I even had a dream about Vic, and the number of times I dreamed about Anne and/or Ashley during those six years can be counted on one hand!  So, I decided to make it official: Victoria Justice and Jennifer Stone were the new Anne Hathaway and Ashley Tisdale.
Since then, although things have mostly been great with them, there have been some rough spots. Between Vic's abysmal "performance" on The View, Jen starring in the terrible flick Mean Girls 2, not to mention the whole "Breakfast Bunch" incident...yeah, it hasn't always been easy to be a Victorian or a Jennifer Stone fan.  Still, barring a seriously terrible controversy and/or tragedy, I'm in it for the long haul.  Will TORi and Jennifer still be my "top two" three years from now? That, I don't know; after all, Hilary Duff's time as my "main girl" lasted less than 2.5 years.  For now, though, I'm sticking with what I've got.  Those who decry that and say that I need to find a significant other instead of being a huge fan of famous people I'll never meet should go read 1 Corinthians 7:7-8; marriage isn't for everyone, no matter what society would have you believe.
Any comments?
P. S. If any of you read this all the way through, please leave a comment saying that you did. Thank you.

What's Out There?

Most of you who have known me for a while know that I used to be a big Nintendo fan.  Although I played and enjoyed various games from the Big "N," ranging from Super Smash Bros. Melee to Mario Kart 64 to Tetris to Game and Watch Gallery 2, much of my time was spent playing RPGs, especially on my Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance.  I first became familiarized with the turn-based, level-up style of role-playing games by playing Pokémon: Red Version, but I enjoyed a few others, ranging from later "pocket monsters" titles to Golden Sun and its sequel to classic Final Fantasy games to even Mario Golf. (Yes, the latter title really was an RPG on Game Boy Color; look it up if you don't believe me.)  However, the one problem I had was that, for reasons we don't need to get into, I never actually beat any of the games all by myself, so, in some of the games, I spent my time walking around aimlessly and doing the same non-essential things again and again instead of completing whatever task(s) that would allow me to win the game and be the victor.  Some of you may wonder how that's possible in a video game, but among the typical features of role-playing games are save files and walk-around levels; such titles have few similarities to old-school favorites like Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros.  Although video games are known for being time-wasters, playing them the way I did was even worse, because I didn't accomplish a thing during that time, including beating the game.
What's my point in bringing that up? Simply this: Sometimes, I feel as if what I used to do in video games, I'm now doing in real life.  It's not that I don't do anything productive with my time; I work all day on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and am very grateful to have a job, especially in this economy.  Even on my own time, I make cards for people, help my parents and others with tech-related tasks, hunt for bargains at yard/garage sales and similar places, go to church three times a week, read quite a bit, and the like.  Still, I can't help but feel like there's something/some things I'm not doing that would lead to a better, richer, and/or more productive life if I were to do it/them.  What it is/they are, I don't know.  How to go about finding out what it is/they are, I also don't know.  What would happen if I were to succeed at that/those thing(s)? Would I find romance? Would I become able to live on my own? Would I become financially successful? Again, I don't know.
My loyal readers have probably noticed a recent increase in allusions/references to the Bible in my posts, even in parodies such as "Just End It (File, Quit)".  I've realized that God and His Word were taking a backseat to less important topics such as celebrities, shopping, technology, etc., and it shouldn't be that way.  Granted, it's not wrong to discuss non-Biblical subjects, but I was posting so much about Victoria Justice, garage sales, my past, and a few other topics that some people may have wondered whether I still believed in Jesus...but I never stopped.  Here's how my faith applies to what I said in the previous paragraphs: I believe that every life has a purpose.  Whether someone lives less than ten hours or more than ten decades, he/she is here for a reason.  Although I believe there's a general purpose for the creation of humankind in the first place, I also feel that every individual has at least one reason why he/she is where he/she is.  I'm reminded of the story of Elizabeth Vidos, a Christian percussionist who toured both with Stomp and CCM singer Bebo Norman.  Here's what she had to say in the August 2001 issue of CCM Magazine:

“Everything changed when I saw ‘STOMP’ on HBO my last year of college. Then I traveled to Mobile, [Ala.,] to see it live. I asked how many people auditioned for a spot and was told ‘about a thousand,’ so I put it out of my mind. But when [my] campers told me I had to, I called and left my name and number on an answering machine.  I spent a couple of months at home that summer. I kept asking God, ‘Please show me why I’m here!’ About 11 one night, I found my dad lying on the floor; he’d just had a stroke. God told me, ‘I just needed you there for that one moment.’ Two weeks later ‘STOMP’ called. The way that it all worked out shows God’s fingerprints all over my life.”

You know, sometimes, I feel the same way.  Last month, I went to my friends' anniversary party, and there was a online video that they wanted everyone to see.  The problem was that they were using someone else's laptop, which didn't have the correct browser or necessary plug-ins.  They ended up being really glad I was there, because I had the technological know-how to know exactly what needed to be done and how to do it.  When I first arrived at that party, I had no idea such skills would come in handy; I'm not sure what they would have done without me.  There are countless other incidences like that throughout my life, but this applies to all of them: Where others might see coincidence, I see God.  It's impossible to know the mind of the Lord, but, if I had to guess, I would say that where I am now is where He wants me to be, even though others may feel otherwise.  Yet, that lingering feeling is still there: Is there another step I haven't taken? Is there another chapter of my life that won't begin until I let it? I really don't know...but, for now, I'm happy with who I am, where I am, and how I am.  No, I'm not perfect; I mess up from time to time, just like we all do.  There may be all sorts of adventures awaiting me in the future; only time will tell.  At this time, though, I'll just press on with my life and see where God leads me; all of us, including me, might very well be surprised by what happens to me in the future.  Seriously, how many of you are exactly where you thought you would be years ago at this point in your lives? Didn't think so.
Any comments?

It's Okay to Be Single...Even For Life!

Our culture is obsessed with romance.  Almost all of the best-loved fictional yarns of the past century, ranging from Star Wars to The Great Gatsby to I Love Lucy, have some sort of romantic element to them.  It's rare to find a story these days that does not involve two characters falling in love.  Such a fixation makes many lifelong singles feel like losers.
That trend has made its way into the doors of the church.  God ordained marriage as a sacred union, and has even given commandments regarding it; however, Christians have become increasingly insistent that marriage is God's plan for everyone's life.  Is it wrong to get married? Of course not! However, take into consideration these verses:

• "Jesus replied, 'Not everyone can accept the idea of staying single. Only those who have been helped to live without getting married can accept it.  Some men are not able to have children because they were born that way. Some have been made that way by other people. Others have made themselves that way in order to serve the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept living that way should do it.'" -- Matthew 19:11-12 (NIRV)
• "Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry." -- 1 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV 1984)
• "So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am." -- 1 Corinthians 7:8 (NLT)

 I have no doubt that, for some people, marriage can be a wonderful thing.  Still, there are plenty of cases where people should refrain from getting married, just because, as those verses say, it's not for everyone.  I've heard far too many heartbreaking stories of married couples, including some Christian ones, whose marriages have gone wrong, leading to all kinds of trouble.  There are some people who just aren't meant to find romance, and that's fine.
As usual, I'll use stories from the entertainment world to prove my point: Some of you may have heard of the Christian comedian/southern gospel singer Mark Lowry, who is a lifelong member of the Baptist church.  Mr. Lowry is old enough to be my dad, but he has no children (unless you count his nieces and nephews) and has never married...yet, he is perfectly happy with his life.  Sure, single Christian women have tried to start a romance with him; in his book Live Long and Die Laughing, he discussed getting dating proposals from unmarried female fans via e-mail such as, "I don't normally do stuff like this, but God contacted me last night and told me we're gonna have kids, so call me."  If he is still living a full Godly life without a significant other and is completely happy with his lot in life, then, I say, more power to him.  There are probably plenty of other Christians out there, of both genders, who are the same way.
Despite everything I've mentioned in this post so far, some people, including Christians, seem to pressure others into finding romance.  I've seen numerous cases where well-meaning believers assumed there were romantic feelings between two people of the opposite gender when there was absolutely zero, or assure people who haven't found "the one" yet that there is 100% chance they will at some point.  I ask: Why? Didn't the above verses say that some people are meant to remain unmarried?  Sure, our society's focus on romantic love may make it harder for those who are in such a situation, but not only is the entertainment industry to blame for that, but no one said that being a Christian, no matter your relationship/marital status, is easy.  Marriage may make some people happy, but, for others, it does the exact opposite.
In conclusion, I will say this: I've mentioned before that all of us have something that is only behind faith, family, and friends in terms of importance to us.  Some people's passion for that topic, no matter what it is, is so encompassing that it takes place of a relationship.  I'm reminded of a scene in the 2006 film The Astronaut Farmer where the title character has asked his friends and family what he should name the rocket he'd built.  A Latino buddy suggests La Otra Mujer; that's Spanish for The Other Woman.  As strange as it may sound, for some, their hobby is their "spouse."  I should know; I am one of those people.  I know I've joked about a celebrity such as Hilary Duff, Anne Hathaway, Victoria Justice, or some others I won't mention, as being my "girlfriend" or "wife".  Of course, it was all a joke; I've never met any of those famous people, and I never have been in any sort of relationship with them.  Still, as my interests have shifted and I've expanded my horizons, I really feel that I am "in a relationship with" or "married to" entertainment.  I know, I know; pretty much all of us love our movies, music, television, books, etc., but I spend so much time immersed in, discussing, and/or researching at least one form of entertainment that it rivals the number of hours I've seen young couples in serious relationships spend together.  Frankly, I'm perfectly fine with that; no, entertainment can't supply me with the physical aspect of romantic love, but it can make me happy and brighten my day.  It may sound like a defeatist attitude to feel that way, but that may be God's plan for me; check the above verses for proof.
Any comments?