In response to the Slate Book Review Against YA mentioning “…you should feel embarrassed when what you’re reading was written for children.”

Bands battle.  Rappers battle.   Athletes battle.  …why not writers?

Round One

Round Two

The Main Event

AHA – Visual Artists Are Artists of All the Senses and Language

I never cease to be amazed how artists can translate words, feelings, and emotions into amazing images.  One sketch…one visual (well, two in this example) conveys all the descriptions and emotions perceived and projected by both the subject (who the artist never “saw”) and the third party.

AHA – Why Do We Mute Our Self Image?

AHA – People Wear Rose Colored Glasses More Than Expected

How We See

Is this even a mathematical symbol?

The tilde symbol, ~ usually indicates a mathematical meaning of equivalency or similarity between two values.  In terms of logic, it is also a similar symbol indicating negation.  It’s also a diacritic placed over certain letters in languages (other than English).

Collecting Colloquialisms – Fun / Funny / Punny Colloquialisms

I’ve started collecting funny colloquialisms (local sayings and phrases) that tickle our funny bones around the camp fire, at the pub, or just during friendly conversation.  

Wanna Help Me Brainstorm?  

I have collected quite a few funny colloquialisms already, but they’re mostly southern-ish. I’d appreciate reminders of the many I know I’ve forgotten, and I’d love to hear some new ones that aren’t necessarily “southern.”  …though, you might have to explain some of them to me if they’re not southern.  

I am certainly open to all kinds of fun/pun word play and clever quips of any rating (G-R).  I’m looking for any and all of the funny colloquialisms I have not yet collected, so bring ’em on!  🙂  …though, again, you might have to explain some of them to me if “I ain’t from around there.”

Michigan friends had to explain one local colloquialism to me already.  Unless you know that Michiganders use their hands to represent a map of Michigan, the colloquialism didn’t make much since.  Knowing about the hand/map thing made the phrase funny. 

A Handful of Examples – Fun/Funny Colloquialisms, Sayings, Phrases:

• …so sweet, it’d bring a tear to a glass eye
• Colder than a well-digger’s hind end
• …few bricks shy of a load
• I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck.
• Madder than an old wet hen
• Ill as a hornet
• Finer than frog hair
• He’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.
• Nervous as a long –tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs
• Like shoveling sand with a slotted spoon
• It’s a gully washer out there.
• Purty as a speckled pup
• It’s down yonder a ways as the crow flies
• Grinnin’ like a possum
• Happy as a clam
• No flies on you
• Draw more flies with honey than with vinegar

Where To Add Your Two Cents/Favorite Funny Colloquialisms

Help Add to My Colloquialism Collection And Make Us All Laugh

So, was Jodi Foster’s acceptance of the Cecil B. Demille Award a “coming out” speech or was it just a normal acceptance speech that happened to include references to people and events that were semi-public/private?

Thoughts from Belly Acres, Alabama:

Dunno, folks.  Down here in ‘bama, we don’t really think about a person’s lifestyle preferences until the subject comes up in conversation.

‘bama Example

For example, at the company Christmas party… “Oh, hi.  Meet my coworker Bob and his partner, Dale.”  Even then, the subject may not go any further since “partner” could mean a few different things.  Usually, we just absorb the statement and realize that it could mean an alternative lifestyle.  Ok.  Good to know.

Now, if the person(s) involved in the conversation happen to want to talk about their alternative lifestyle… well, that’s okay, too.  Conversations can go many ways.  🙂

Overall, though, unless the subject is brought up specifically to let people know and/or to encourage discussing, ’round here, we pretty much assume your lifestyle is similar to our own and don’t nose into your business any further.

If the subject never comes up, most folks around here just don’t think about it too much.  A person is a person regardless of what he or she does with adult consent in his or her own home.  Does anyone really think folks should know the preferences of every person encountered in life?  …doctor, lawyer, school teacher, police officer, waiter, cook, actor, athlete, author, artist?  Does it matter?

Jodie Foster’s Speech at the Golden Globe Awards:

We’re not bellyachin’ ’bout this in Belly Acres, Alabama

Not that it mattered at all to me, but I didn’t know that Jodi Foster lived a “nontraditional” lifestyle.  It’s still okay, and it still doesn’t matter.  I can’t say that I ever really wondered or cared.

Don’t get me wrong.  I love Jodi Foster’s work.  This latest media noise just prompted me to check my video cabinet to find (horror of horrors) that I did not currently own a copy of Candleshoe  one of my favorite Jodi Foster movies.

Thank you, Amazon.  Candleshoe can be in my DVD player within a couple of days or streaming online in a matter of minutes.  Cool.

I do love Jodi Foster’s work.  I can’t really say whether or not I like Jodi Foster, the person or not.  I don’t know her.  I know her work and her characters.  I also know some trivial facts about her career, but I’ve never met her.

As a fan, I would like to meet her someday, but whether I meet her or not, I’m still going to enjoy watching Candleshoe, Freaky Friday, Silence of the Lambs, Maverick, Contact, Ana and the King, Panic Room, and Nim’s Island.

Yep.  That’s the sum of it on Belly Acres…

…one gift for you…

…one gift for me…

….. a LIGHTSABER!!!!

WHY didn’t I think of that?!?!? Awesome short video of a filmmaker/artist conversing with his 12 year old self.

Jeremiah McDonald, now a 32 year old film maker captures a video conversatoin between his adult self and his 23 year old self.

From the Author, Shelley Hitz

Trusting God When Bad Things Happen
Guest post by the author, Shelley Hitz

My heart continues to be heavy for all those grieving today across our country. I don’t believe it was a coincidence that I published a book this past week called, “Trusting God When Bad Things Happen.” And even before the tragedy in Connecticut, I felt led to offer it free on Smashwords this month.

Trusting God In The Midst of the “Storms” of Life

When bad things happen, what is your reaction? Do you trust God even when you don’t understand?

There was a dark season in my life when it literally felt like an earthquake had occurred. Everything in my life seemed to be falling apart…my family, my finances, our church. And I asked God the simple question, “Why?” This book is the result of my own search for answers. In the end, God gave me illustrations that I will share with you and brought healing to my heart and my distorted view of Him. I was able to trust Him again, even though my circumstances had not changed.

I pray that God uses this short eBook to deeply impact you as well. I have included questions for reflection for you to go through individually or as a group.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I (Jesus) have overcome the world!” – John 16:33

One Reader’s Response:

“This book has Biblical answers to the ‘Why?’ we are hearing so much today after the shooting tragedy in Connecticut. Thank you, Shelley, for the timeliness and wisdom.” ~Barbara

Download This Book for Free
For anyone interested, you can download the book “Trusting God When Bad Things Happen” FREE this month.

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/263666
100% Off Coupon Code: HB95F
Expires: January 1, 2013

This book is also available for $0.99 on Kindle http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ALLQW5A

Please feel free to share this book and coupon code with anyone you think could benefit from the topic.

The Belly Acres Review

Hitz is a highly experienced mentor and guide for those of us who struggle to find answers to all the “whys” in the world.  Hitz uses examples and questions from her own struggles and the struggles of others with whom she extendeds a physical or virtual shoulder or hand during those times when we most need a point in the right direction.

One of the main reasons I related well to Trusting God When Bad Things Happen is that it is a rather brief, conversational style with gentle references and “points” to Biblical and scholarly references.  Since the “why” answers vary as widely as the individuals who pose the questions, I’m quite happy that there was no attempt to define a single concrete answer.  Many times, there is no concrete answer, and even if an answer exists, God may not plan for us to know those answers just yet.

Hitz uses stories and analogies to help the reader truly identify the “bad things,” then points the reader in the right direction to explore grace, healing, and even understanding through God’s gentle Word.

Yes, I do recommend Trusting God When Bad Things Happen, especially now, during this recent period of stunned grief and loss, and while Hitz is generously offerring a free ebook copy from Smashwords.  (See the author’s guest post above for the coupon code and details.  Smashwords provides multiple formats for ebooks, so you can download your preferred file, ePub/Nook, mobi/Kindle, etc.)

The author encourages sharing the coupon code for the free ebook, so feel free to share this blog post/information with friends, family, and your church librarian.  Even after the coupon code expires, most of Hitz’s inspirational/guidance ebooks are priced very reasonably, so churches and mentors can affordably use them to help guide us to God through our struggles.

Trusting God When Bad Things Happen is also available for purchase on Amazon.