It’s one for the Dagger and another for the one you believe.
I hesitate to make this post because dismarum’s slated to post some monday music and I have some weird guilt complex about posting when someone else is posting.
Why do I keep coming across the phrase “artful dodger” lately? Fate is trying to tell me something.
Has anyone else read The Secret yet? My mom gave me a copy of it last week. I read it through once and have considered reading through it again in hopes of clarifying some qualms I have. I believe the book has a couple points I’m not sure I agree with and some points feel downright blasphemous. For instance, God (capital G) is you? I don’t think so. I also need to sort out the justification for—let’s face it—the greed that saturates each page.
And still, I keep thinking I should just put a little faith into some of these given affirmations because I think it’s worth a shot. Who knows, maybe I’ll be rich and famous this time next year. And married. With eight kids.
Kidding on that last part. (pun)
If you’re unfamiliar with The Secret, it’s a self-help book currently at number one on the NYTimes Bestseller List for Hardcover Advice books. Technically, it was a film first, but the book is all I’ve acquainted myself with. The Secret, if you’re wondering, is the Law of Attraction. The book’s basis is the law of attraction is not only the greatest law in the universe, but also capable of giving you everything you’ve ever wanted. And, oh yeah, you are ultimately responsible for everything—good, bad, comedic, tragic—that has ever happened to you. Ever. Talk about a guilt complex.
Moving on.
I want to host a bead party. Bead for Life is an organization featured Friday on the NBC Nightly News, so if you’re a Brian Williams fan, you may already be aware. Women in Uganda make gorgeous beads. Women in North America sell those beads and send the money back to the women in Uganda, who are then able to buy necessities. Here’s how the website breaks it down:
For every $10.00 dollar necklace that you buy:
$1.10 supports our Uganda operations including community development programming
$2.00 goes directly to the beader at the time we purchase the necklace
$2.60 represents our US operations including shipping the jewelry, coordinating bead parties, visiting schools, speaking at events, etc.
$4.30 cents is reinvested in community development projects in Uganda.
If you ask me, that’s a pretty good deal. Plus, the jewelry is fantastic: necklaces, bracelets, anklets, loose beads, etc. They’re all so beautiful. I have a string of red beads coming my way.
Additionally, people are able to host bead parties. Bead for Life will send you a large package of jewelry for your registered bead party. People come to your party, and you try on jewelry, eat African food, listen to African music, learn about the women of Uganda and write letters to them if you wish, and buy beads. When the party is over, you package up the remaining beads and the money and mail it back. Presto. You’ve just made a difference in people’s lives. A significant difference. I love this program already. Mel and I have discussed having a bead party within the next month, so if you’re in the area, expect to come.
Let me see, what else. Oh yes. Just for the hell of it (because I have some sick fascination with match sites), I signed up over at chemistry.com to see what it entailed.
See for yourself what their “chemical love reaction” is based on:



Exciting news for me. For years and years (I think about five years or more), I’ve been wanting invisalign for my teeth. Often people say they aren’t “that bad” or aren’t noticeable or aren’t too crooked. They are, though. And the one thing that continually lowers my self-image and makes me self-conscious is my teeth. So this is a big thing for me. I’m finally getting them fixed. I have other things to do for my teeth first, and then I should be able to start using the invisalign trays in about seven weeks (they take awhile to make the trays). Even if I’m not rich and famous this time next year, I should at least have straight teeth. And I will probably be standing on the rooftops announcing the wonder of insivalign as well as all my other informal endorsements.
I believe there was one other thing I had to say and now I’ve forgotten it.
My motivation is lost. If you see it, tell it I’d really like to have it. As for sitting at my desk and accomplishing things, I haven’t been able to focus long enough to do pretty much anything. As if that’s a surprise.
I do think Billie Joe Armstrong is the Johnny Rotten v2.0.
Oh oh. Ryan Adams’ next album is slated for June 26. Mark your calendars now.
Peace, love, and beads to end poverty.