I almost cried happy tears last night when I was watching Kimmel. Big giant happy pageant girl alligator tears.
Partially because of the Baby Bachelor, which is something I would watch without any shame whatsoever.
Yep. Absolutely no shame. I'd love more episodes of that adorable little curly-headed Muppet.
Anyway, the main reason Kimmel had me crying happy tears was that he had Ethan Hawke on the show, and I had no idea that Before Midnight was actually being made. I died a little when I saw it. I get a third and final installation of Celine and Jesse where they're actually together??? I cried. I wish I was kidding.
The amount of love I have for Before Sunrise is almost unprecedented in terms of romantic movies. I honest to goodness think that film is as perfect a romantic movie as has ever been made. It released in 1992, but it focused on the unsteadiness of those in their early twenties, and all of the second-guessing that occurs in the period of your life. Is it love? Is it infatuation? What do I do with my life?
(I think Ethan Hawke was the king of this genre in the nineties. See also Reality Bites.)
I think if everyone could experience that kind of maddening love, the world would be a better world.
They are such genuinely hopeful, romantic films. And I want y'all to love them like I do.
Did I just write an entire post about a movie? Yes sir I did. And now I'm going to watch Before Sunrise and Before Sunset to prep myself for the June 14 release. Whoops.
I've lived about 95% of my twenty nine years in either Arkansas or Oklahoma. Chances are, if you live in one if these states (or Kansas, Texas, or Missouri), you've taken shelter from a tornado at least once in your life. When you grow up in what's known as Tornado Alley, warning drills in schools were as commonplace as the pledge of allegiance. We tend to treat tornado sirens like cooking timers: once you hear them, you have to walk out to the yard to see if you can spot it before taking cover.
For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by inclement weather. I attribute that, at least in part, to being a native of Tornado Alley. There is a certain amount of terrifying beauty in the formation of a tornado. It's hard for me to watch a tornado form and not wholeheartedly believe in the power and strength of an Almighty God. Nature in general typically makes me wax poetic about the awe-inspiring power of God, and something like this boggles my mind.
There have been so many of these that have hit so close to home.
I can remember April 21, 1996, when a EF3 tornado tore apart my hometown of Fort Smith.
I remember the May 3, 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak (which unfortunately also devastated Moore).
I just barely missed the May 8, 2003 Moore tornado. I had left Norman to visit my Arkansas family the afternoon before.
Less than a month after Joplin, I was passing through on my way home from Kansas City and stopped to look. I took some pictures there, and I can remember thinking that I would never see anything like that ever again. I've never had a scene take my breath away like Joplin did. It quite literally rendered me breathless and speechless.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. I would see something like that again, and it was even closer to me. It breaks my heart that an area that I've called home has seen so much devastation. It is such a silver lining, though, that so many people want to assist these people who have lost everything they own. Like Mr. Rogers said, when you are in the middle of bad times and you get scared, look for the helpers, You will always see good people trying to help, and fortunately, Oklahoma is notorious for their huge hearts. Kevin Durant of the OKC Thunder has donated $1M to disaster relief, as has Chesapeake Energy. The University of Oklahoma (my old stompin' grounds) has opened up its dorms to anyone who is displaced. If you or someone you know need these services, please call (405) 325-2511.
So what can un-millionared little guys like us do?
Here's how you can help:
1. Go to your local Red Cross in the coming days and sign up for disaster relief training. The problem right now (and I hesitate to call it an actual problem) is that everyone wants to help, but very few people are trained in the X's and O's of HOW to help. You want to help, but if you don't know what you're doing, you might end up being more in the way.
If you sign up to be a Disaster Relief volunteer now, you'll be better equipped to respond to a future emergency. You can find more information on the Red Cross website.
There will be a great need for volunteers in the coming weeks after the rescues are completed. Once the clean-up process begins, that's when regular Joes like you and I will be most beneficial.
2. Give monetarily. Sometimes, money can be more helpful than the actual doing, especially when we aren't quite sure what to do. The Red Cross has said that this is actually the best way for everyone to help right now. You can text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to the victims of the Moore tornado, OR you can text "STORM" to 80888 to give $10 through the Salvation Army.
3. You can send water, nonperishable food, clothing and shoes to Journey Church in Norman, just south of Moore. The address is 3801 Journey Parkway, Norman, OK 73072. You can also send them to 7401 North Kelley Avenue in OKC.
4. For anyone around me (Arkansas/ Oklahoma area), I'm considering going over in the coming weeks, once a clean up effort begins. If you'd like to drop anything with me (or I can even come pick it up), I know it will help.
5. Look through your Facebook or watch your local news for donation drives in your area. Many churches are collecting both funds and water/food/clothing for disaster victims. Do your research, though, and make sure they are reputable. If you are in the Fort Smith area, a semi truck will be leaving tomorrow from Mercy (I believe). Please contact me if you'd like to donate.
This one as a big weekend for us ... Blond John officially graduated law school!
One of my favorite things about John's job is that he travels (he may not agree with me as much). He's based out of Little Rock, but he does a lot of SSD hearings, so he travels all over the state for them ... and a lot of times, his travelling takes him to either Fort Smith (alternate name: Tylerville) or Northwest Arkansas (and you go through Fort Smith to get there from Little Rock). He ended up having a few hearings in Fayetteville on Friday, so he came and stayed here on Thursday night and we went to see a band at Movie Lounge with some friends!
[the most amazing photobomb ever. way to go, Pruitt.]
John had a bunch of family come up for graduation, so we went to brunch on Saturday morning with the whole clan. If you're in NWA, Union Kitchen in the Chancellor Hotel is great. I had the Bayou Benedict (also called the Spicy Fat Kid Special), and it was amazing. The peach sangria is also nothing to scoff at. It was super fresh and really sweet.
John had to be at the Town Center by 1:00, but the ceremony didn't start until 2:00, so what did we do? We went to Tiny Tim's next door and pounded a few RBVs. Doesn't everyone do that?
And thennnnn ... Blond John officially graduated. Look how cute he looks in his robe.
Naturally, after that we had to celebrate!!!
[you stay classy, Willy D's]
We have lots of pictures from all of this stuff, but they're spread out over about five different cameras and phones. Whoops.
I'd chat more, but I have to go claim my inheritance.
