So, there are no classes today due to extreme cold weather. To say I am happy is an understatement. However, I am a little sad to be missing music methods. I love that class. Learning about how to teach little kids about music and it's components? Singing kids' songs again? In my own made-up words, splendifabulous!!!

When I fell asleep last night, I was reading the novel to one of my favorite movies of all time, "The Princess Bride". To say I'm a little flustered about the nature of the character Buttercup is a bit of an understatement. I realize that Westley loved her deeply with everything he was, enough so to risk his life to save her in the Fire Swamp when she fell into the Snow Sand. Enough so to risk his life numerous times before that to rescue her from Fezzik, Inigo, and Vizzini and the Cliffs of Insanity. If it were me...actually, at this point in my life, I can't see that happening with anyone I know other than Jesus--the God and Man who saved me from an eternity in hell when I die. After all, the Fire Swamp was considered a huge threat for kids--enough to cause nightmares of being sent there for an eternity (similar to hell?). Either way, back to my point in the first place. I'm a little disppointed in Buttercup's intelligence level. In the movie, she didn't seem to be the most educated person on the block, but she wasn't portrayed as the moron she is in the book! Meanwhile, Westley is portrayed to be this awesome lover man who reads...someone I consider to be a man I think of heroically. He's clever, brave, smart, loving... quick. If I really thought of this to be an ideal love story, Buttercup would be an insult to all women. lol. However, this is just a book and, although the movie is one of my favorites, I'm glad Buttercup is portrayed as semi-normal as far as intelligence. Anyway, I'm gonna jump off my soapbox now.

When I woke up this morning, after I checked out the e-mail that said classes were cancelled and smiled, I checked another message where I get a daily quote of some type of wisdom and thought I could share it with you all.

"I saw about a peck of counterfeit dollars once. Did I go to the window and throw away all my good dollars? No! Yet you reject Christianity because there are hypocrites, or counterfeit Christians." - William E. Biederwolf

I thought this was interesting because a.) I know it's true from experience and b.)it's worded so nicely and is a clever statement. How many times have we made an assumption about a generality while only seeing one person. Isn't that what many Americans did after 9/11 with many minoritites in this country, especially people from the Middle East and Muslims. Isn't that what everyone on the planet does with Americans? Judge every individual in the US while only seeing the actions of our President? I read a really good book recently, "The Freedom Writers Diary" (Yes, it's the book the movie was taken from). While I expected to be blown out of the water by the awesomeness of this teacher and her students, it opened my eyes to the deep prejudice that many of the people in today's society feel or are even raised with. "Stick up for your own" and "Stay away from those people" are common thoughts and sayings in the book. However, this teacher, through reading and writing educated these kids that we should not judge by an overall picture, but an individual. For example, just because that one African-American murdered your brother or friend, does not give you the justification to hate and want to get revenge on every person that is African-American. However, this is the case too often. Upon reflecting, I sadly conclude that we are all sinners and that fact isn't going to magically change someday soon. However, the will to change this prejudice is something I whole-heartedly believe in. Any children of mine, whether by blood or in the classroom, will tolerate and understand and be family with everyone else--no matter ethnic group, music preference, parents, past experiences. Acceptance will rule one day! :)

Now, as I continue to listen to my reflective music (currently playing Casting Crowns' song "While You Were Sleeping"<---one of my fave songs), I'm gonna figure out what to do with the rest of my day. I'm thinking a girls day. lol.

Chao amigos, tiene un bueno dia.

       Angie