Trite

"A once effective phrase or idea that has been spoiled by long familiarity." according to Merriam Webster.

I've decided that I don't like this word. Just because something has been said before doesn't mean that it's not true any more. If a phrase or word expresses what you mean exactly who shouldn't you say it? I think the only words that are truly spoiled by familiarity are swear words. What people really mean when they say something in a conversation is trite is that I think the person insincere. People too often say something because they've heard other people say the same thing in a similar situation. They don't know what it really means or don't really mean what they're saying.

In writing, I try to avoid common phrases just because originality is one of the purposes of writing to me. It's also one of the most enjoyable things about reading. An original phrase is a delight. However, I don't discount a write for using something that is common effectively.

In art, particularly photography, there is absolutely no such thing as trite. People who use the word trite are just trying to push the framework of fashion into art. Fashion wants everything to be new and edgy so it rejects things that are good just because it's common. Therefore lots of good things such as photos of blue bonnets, paintings of landscapes, and bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" are all discarded as 'trite'. Why? Just because lots of other people have taken pictures of lots of other blue bonnets doesn't make this photo a bad one. Just because lots of other people have painted lots of other landscapes doesn't make any one of them less beautiful. And just because it's traditional to play "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes doesn't make it sound bad. Tradition can be a good thing.

And certainly 'trite' has no place in talking about truth. If anything we need truths repeated over and over. "Peace on Earth! Goodwill to men!" "He is Risen" "Blessed be the Name of the Lord". As Kirk Youngblood said the other Sunday God won't care whether a church is innovative, creative, or on the cutting edge, but whether or not the sheep were fed the Word. Truth bears repeating and it never becomes trite.

Mama's Hair

Mama's Hair
Originally uploaded by Purple Palindrome

I took this with BonnieJean's Iphone.

Mama has what we call "the Pryor girls' hair". Pryor is her mother's maiden name. All of the women descendants have thick, glossy, healthy hair that either waves or curls. I don't know if you can tell from such a close up shot, but Mama's hair waves at the ends.

Mama's hair has been going gray for a couple of years now. I say gray--it's more silver. I think it's even prettier now with so much silver than it has been in the past. I'm so glad she's not one of those ladies who dyes their hair.

Something you cannot tell from the picture is that Mama's hair is also very soft. She prefers to fix her hair and then spray it with hairspray, but Dad doesn't like the texture of it when it has hairspray in it. He plays with her hair a lot. So, she goes without styling most of the time.

Bavido Banditos

Bavido Banditos
Originally uploaded by Purple Palindrome

Here ya go, JC! I apologize for taking approx. forever and a day to get this to you!

We took this on August 22nd, right before Dad left.

Back to front, left to right: Samuel, Caleb, BonnieJean, Isaac, Joshua, Naomi, Anna, Mama, Dad, and Ethan.

Ocean in my pants!

(If you click on the link, skip to 2:20 in) Mama bought season 7 of the t.v. show Monk. We already have season 1 on dvd. we have given up trying to watch them in order and are nwo just snatching up whatever we can find. Mr. Monk Goes Underwater is one of my top favorites.

Chera is here! I am so excited! I think she is so brave to move across country, to a new job, away from her familiy. She's amazing!

Not this Saturday but the next I'm going to spend a few hours at Tulsa Violin Shop just taking pictures. I talked to one of the shop keepers there today (I was picking up a special rosin) and he was actually excited about the idea. I was rather surprised--I thought he would have been more cautious. I've wanted to do this shoot for a while so it should be fun!

Dad leaves Sunday. :(

This seems rather boring, but I'm lacking the inspiration right now.

Curiousity

Samuel can see how many people view a photo on his flickr page. He noticed that the picture I posted on my blog had 5 or 6 times the average number of views. So now I'm curious, who are all these people? I thought I only had about 10 readers. I'm in danger of getting a big head.

I should be sleeping

instead of keeping these late hours I've been keeping...sing with me!...I've been tracing and retracing every step of every move...

That's a good song.  It's a tad unrelated, but good for a post at 10 p when you only had 6 hours of sleep last night.  Ha--listen to me!  I have obviously settled into break mode quickly.  6 hours of sleep used to be really good.

  Tomorrow we get family pictures done for the church directory.  I'm so excited.  Our pictures two years ago turned out really nice.

  I really need to jump onto Christmas shopping.  I haven't done any.  Good thing we're celebrating it a week late this year.  Our Christmas tree is up and totally overdone, just the way I like it.

  Last night was Twilight Prayer and Praise.  We almost didn't go since the roads were icey, but I'm glad we went anyway.  I feel full, replenished.  Christian fellowship is such a mystery to me.  Why do we self-destruct by denying it to ourselves?  Why do we see God differently when we're alone than when we're with a group?  Why did God make it where we need both?

  Poor Caleb has a terrible, croupy cough.  There's not much we can do for him. :(  And of course, we're having to practically tie him up to get him to slow down and rest.

  Friday I have a job interview with IBC at 2--please pray!  Friday is my last day at Donna's!  And Chera's going to call me Friday and I get to go to the homeschool band concert!  Oh, but Chera, if your throat is still sore Friday, don't call me.  I don't want your voice to run away like mine did.

  I have turned into quite the ogre while at home this semester.  I'm not quite sure why, but that doesn't really matter, I just need to straighten up.  I think the main thing is I need to praise more than I gripe.

  We had dinner at Mazzio's with the Teagues tonight.  They are so awesome!  Mama, Mrs. Teague and I discussed trends and situations, past and present, of the Christian music industry, economic theories of the advantages and disadvantages of deflation and inflation, psychotic habits of our own and our family's, and other sundry topics.  Stockton let me listen to an awesome Celtic fiddle piece on his mp3--it was beautiful.

  I'm going to go play or read something mindless.  My sinuses are terribly congested and I'm tired, so I don't feel like writing anything original or reading anything beyond a 5th grade level.  Love y'all!

Roses

  Check out this lady's rose pictures.

I should be in bed

so of course I'm writing a blog post instead.

  I have turned in almost everything for Internship II.  I only have two forms left to turn in and I need Julie's signature for one of them.

  I'm working on the group historical analysis project for Research Methods II right now.  It's going very well.  we each take a court transcript and identify categories and types of evidence.  So far I've found three in Samuel Wardwell's trial: confession, physical affliction, and eyewitness testimony.  I hope the rest of my group is making progress as well.

  I really like the songs we're doing in church on Sunday.  I'm not much into listening to Christmas music, but I sure love to play it.  I actually get a solo part on Three Kings this Sunday.  I'm nervous already.

  The weather keeps getting colder here.  I've rediscovered my black trench coat the last couple of days.  Today the wind was really strong.  I felt very dramatic striding purposefully across the campus with my black trench coat billowing out behind me.

  We're doing another church directory and we're having the same company do it as last time.  I'm really excited.  The pictures they did last time were incredible.  Our's was the best family portrait we have ever had done.  Which reminds me that JC asked for a copy of it...

  I only have three major school assignments left: journals for Social Systems and Problems, and the two final papers for Campaigns.  Minor assignments left are the historical analysis and final for Research Methods II, finals in Public Policy, Literary Traditions, and Social Systems and problems (which all be in class), and one presentation for Public Policy.

  I love Mama's cream cheese icing!

  I need to start thinking about Christmas shopping.

  Ok, now I'm going to bed.  Love y'all!

Pictures

Here are some photo links off of my igoogle page.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/becksphotography/2970666823/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/insideman/2971721500/

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/enlarge/sunset-rust_pod_image.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vw4ross/2970721863/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blurredfoto/2970413383/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozrkclckr/2971881142/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mik5156/2970582569/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mary_wv/2971451332/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pansom/2971730942/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leowincy/2971698574/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenaah/2971239209/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffclow/2971888684/

Howdy hey!

I'm taking the Comp II advanced standing test Thursday at 11. Everybody pray for me!

I've been at school almost all day working on the paper that is my Perspectives final. I'm almost onto the 4th page (limit is 10 pages) and I've only done the first two points out of 6 total. I think I'll write it and then do some serious editing. However, points 2 and 3 are the largest so maybe it'll be just fine.

There's a concert by the jazz band tonight that I really want to go to (I've only gotten to hear them play at basketball games, which doesn't really count) and I'm trying to decide if I should just go ahead and stay here or go home and then come back. I should probably check the time of the concert and call home to see what they're up to.

Speaking of music, Mama got the Josh Groban's new CD, Noel, for her birthday. His voice is so beautiful it actually makes Little Drummer Boy and Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire sound good.

Dad has this week off. He's doing his usual working vacation. This time he's re-roofing his tool shed, while recovering from a head cold. Superdad, that's him.

I had a blast Saturday at Chloe Cobb's birthday party. I have such awesome friends.

Oh, and I get to see more awesome friends this weekend when we have a birthday party for Mama, Naomi, and Stirling.

Chera, can I call you Sunday between 5 and 8? This might end up getting cancelled as we both hurdle towards finals and realize how desperately busy we are, but we can still try.

Uncle Fred was denied parole again. This is the second time and he won't be eligable again for another 3 years, at which point he would have been in jail for 13 years. I really think prison is only making him harder and prouder, not to mention the danger he's in because he is not a member of any gang and is much older than the average inmate. Please be praying for him.

This picture needs a lovely poem about God's stairway or Jacob's ladder or something along those lines to go with it. Any submissions?

If I ever iron out my template

I could put this up as a profile picture.

Incredible lighting

in this picture. I especillay like it because I have always loved swinging.

And in this one.

Busy, busy

I just found out that the RSU spring schedule is online. Ah, now the planning. So far it's looking pretty good. Pelase be praying.

Wankan's demos went great last night. We had about 70 people hear the gospel the first time and between 80 and 90 the second time. And nobody got hurt. Praise God! I haven't heard how the demos went for Mr. Sauter's class.

I have to try to get a hold of a video camera today to film my speech that's due tomorrow. I'm doing Patrick Henry's Liberty or Death Speech.

This is a lovely still life.

And this is a great scenery.

Love y'all!

More Photos

This looks like stuff you see in the Cascade mountains in Washington.

Is it just me or does she look like Lauren from the Kinmen team?

Photo links

There were several noteworthy pictures on my igoogle page today.

High Tide

Cool idea if you just happen to have large frames lying around. Maybe you could go do this when you goof-off at Hobby Lobby.

How cool of a camera would you have to have for this shot? Look at how seagull's feet are already under the water.