I don't usually look forward to the mail, but yesterday brought two happy surprises.

First, a box from Karen full of scrapbooking silliness and toys and clothes for Penny. Yay! We won't have to do Penny's laundry for something like two weeks, now. And the part of me that got into scrapbooking because it's still twelve is in awe at all the stickers. I'm going to have to re-work my organization system.

And then a birth announcement from Ashby and his wife. Cute little baby!

Matt and I watched Adaptation last night. Matt really liked it. I was...

I don't want to say I didn't like it, because I did. It had some really wonderful moments, and it did had some fantastic and subtle camerawork.

But it kind of felt like it was trying too hard to be clever. Like it desperately wanted to be chosen for a film-as-literature analysis course, or something. It had levels and layers that weren't as subtle as they should have been.

Or maybe I was just in the wrong mood for an intellectual movie.

I've had Switchfoot's "Dare You To Move" stuck in my head all morning, and off and on for most of the last week or so. It's a really gorgeous song.

I discovered when I went to look up the lyrics that they're actually a Christian band. One of the reviews I read said something to the effect of, they're attempting to put out inspirational music that doesn't reference God or religion directly.

I was mildly disturbed, at first. Like - oh, no, how can I like Christian music??? I considered taking their album back off my wishlist.

After all, one of the reasons I quit Curves is because I really. Really. REALLY was offended by all the gospelpop they played.

On the other hand, it wasn't the music I objected to. It was the preaching. And best of all music, I like the kind of songs that I can mold into my own interpretation, rather than having to sit on the artist's meanings. It's one of the reasons I like Leonard Cohen so much.

So that's all right.

--Liz