Ledger is Legendary............

...and the Oscar goes to Heath Ledger!!! After all the fanfare and fuss since his untimely and unfortunate death, the (my) verdict is in............and it is all thumbs up! Yesterday afternoon, on opening day we (Sharon, Bob and me) set out, like so many others, to see this long awaited performance........Ledger as the Joker! He did not disappoint.............what a final performance! Prior to being a member of this vast audience, I was hoping that he would not be nominated for the Academy Award........I have not been a big fan of "sympathy votes" in the past for the dearly departed.....but now, having been moved by his performance...........the performance of a (short) lifetime.........I say: If he is not nominated and does not win...............what a crime! If you find yourself in the small group of persons having not yet seen it...........I say go......and make sure your bladder is empty when you sit down..............because there is not a slow spot during the two and a half hours that you will want to sacrifice in the john.........

Post Script: If you are one of my younger readers or are a bit sensitive..........make sure you are old enough and or have parental permission to go.........it is a great movie.......but it surely is not for everyone!

tip Worthy........

...have you ever gone out to eat after a long day of toiling, fully prepared to simply slump into a booth, be promptly greeted by a friendly and enthusiastic server, who will in due time, bring forth a delicious freshly created meal with a smile? ~ only to have your world rocked by a long wait, an unfriendly and unenthusiastic server, who obviously desires at that moment to be somewhere far far away, serving up something with little or no resemblance to the picture in the menu?.............of course you have, we all have! But, isn't it wonderful when it all works out and you are actually refreshed beyond your original expectations?!

I have to give a shout out to Jackie at LaBella's in Gettysburg, PA! Last night, my wife and some great friends (Bob & Vickie) simply slumped into a booth and were blessed to meet and engage with a wonderful young lady (Jackie) who was friendly, patient and very competent..........a blessing for sure and tip Worthy!

So if you find yourself in Gettysburg, PA ~ look up Jackie at Labella's and enjoy the service!.....and by the way, the food is great too! Thanks, Jackie.......keep up the good work! May God bless you as you finish at E-Town!

Post Script: As my wife has tried to teach me, if you encounter one of those servers who is not, lets say, tip Worthy, just remember to spread a little grace their way - you never know what is going on in their world...a divorce, death of a loved one, news of cancer etc, etc etc............Slowly I am trying to learn and practice this............lets practice together and make the world a better place?!

Dying of Thirst...

Water has become my drink of choice lately. I grew up gulping all the soda I could get my hands on, but recently, I gave up the bubbly for plain old water......clean and in seemingly endless supply. It recently occurred to me that water, like so many other things, is something that I take for granted - I think most Americans do?! When you have never done without, it is hard to imagine there are many who do!

At this years Jubilee Conference (put on by the CCO - Coalition for Christian Outreach) held in Pittsburgh, PA, an organization was present that gave me a reality check when it comes to water (and clean blood).........Blood:Water Mission is an AWESOME organization based in Nashville, TN (started by the band Jars of Clay) to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa by providing clean blood: Freedom from HIV and clean water: The foundation for health.........

Check out their site, listed herein, and be part of the solution.........check out their The 1000 Wells Project at www.1000Wells.com .............$1 will save a life...........$1.........it doesn't take much coin to change lives (get it?)..............Be the solution.............Give life!

beans, books and veggies...

and off we go...I will quite often tell of the joys of good beans (coffee) ~ served up hot and black (as God intended!), good books (from Hearts and Minds, where else?) and lately the fresh organic veggies of our CSA (community supported agriculture)...........these are three of the best fruits of my everydays. I hope you read widely (and think/discuss)? If you do, no doubt you will find yourself in sparse company, sadly! And I hope (I may even beg a bit) that you are buying your books from a small, family owned and operated bookseller (hummm.........like Hearts and Minds Books). What a crime it would be to wake up one morning to realize that all of the mom and pop bookstores have finally succumbed to the online giants (like the one that starts with an A that is named after a South American river???)..........

on to coffee..........the drink of drinks........who do you buy your coffee from? After hundreds of gallons of various grocery store canned coffees (often grown by underpaid and overworked farmers), I have recently "seen the light". I read of two guys (Chris and John) who began a fair trade, organic coffee business, headquarted in Seattle, WA ~ Pura Vida Coffee! Check out their website, listed herein......buy a bag of beans......give it a try........it may cost a bit more....but remember cost is always more than economics! And please, no cream or sugar.........if you need cream and/or sugar............have a soda and save the coffee for the rest of us.

Finally on to fresh, organic, in season veggies................check out Elaines veggie site............I realize that most of you do not live in south central PA and cannot "shop" at Everblossom Farm.........but I bet there are some CSA's in your city, burb, town or county....we were inspired by friends in Chicago (Bill and Karen) and another set of local friends (Todd and Johanna) to give the CSA a try.............and we are just eating it up (literally)!.....until next time grab a book, a cup and some local veggies!