My blogroll rocks! (Part 3)
Wednesday, 31 January, 2007
And continuing ...
I don't actually know Irene personally (though she did send me a card once and I also sent her a book) and I can't remember how I got started in reading her. I think perhaps she read me first. Or I noticed that she was commenting a lot on the blogs I read (which were Famous Christian Bloggers—most of whom I don't read now). Irene lives in Malaysia, and her writing is always engaging and very personal. Some of the things she shares with the world are things I wouldn't feel comfortable in sharing, but her honesty is very compelling and you do feel like you identify with her struggles and get to know her well through her blog. I've been praying for Irene for a while too. (I used to pray through my entire blogroll at one stage because I thought that, in linking to people, I should take the relationship seriously, and blogs are a good way of finding out how people are. And then certain people on my blogroll left the blogosphere or never talked about their lives [which meant I didn't really know what to pray for] and others joined the blogosphere so I decided not to retain the practice for new blogs I added.)
Jan is also someone I don't know (but apparently she lives nearby). I think she started reading me before I started reading her. Maybe it was in the days when Rachel was reviewing “Stars of the southern hemisphere” on Blogs4God. Anyway, because Jan started reading me, I started reading her, and I've kept it up because Jan's voice—a voice that speaks from age and experience—is quite distinctive in a cyberworld of mostly young bloggers who often rashly voice opinions without thinking about them. Plus she knits.
Jo started coming to Word by Word a year or two ago and always turned up to our meetings bearing loads of enthusiasm. I love how enthusiastic she is about my blog! This year she's started the equivalent of MTS at Sydney Uni and already she's started chronicling her experiences. I'm sure they'll be a valuable resource for others thinking about MTS.
I'm not sure why I keep Joseph on my blogroll. I've only met him once and he never blogs! He writes for Anglican Media.
Joyce is a girl I met at UNSW the year we hung out with FEVA at Mid Year Conference (2001). She was in my small group. That was the year we did the first half of Galatians for manuscript discovery (manuscript discovery is when you have the text of the Bible printed for you on a piece of paper with no verse numbers, headings or paragraphs—all you have is line numbers. Every day you work on the text by
- highlighting repeated words and phrases;
- thinking about how to break up the text into sections and giving them your own headings;
- underlining imperatives (i.e. commands);
- trying to trace the logic of the ideas throughout the entire passage;
- summing up in just one sentence what the passage is about.
I remember manuscript discovery on Galatians as being especially rewarding. Everyone in that little group was so into it, and on the last day, we decided to read through the whole of the rest of Galatians to see how the ideas and themes we'd been studying developed in the rest of the letter.
Joyce's photo collages are awesome, plus she often links to cool design stuff and other things.
I take back what I said about Duncan. I've probably known Karen longer. But then she's been in an out of my life since I met her so perhaps it doesn't really count. I first met Karen at a young writers' day at the Rozelle Writers' Centre. Libby Gleeson and Brian Caswell were guest speakers. At the time, I was hugely into young adult fiction, but I was also incredibly shy. So when lunchtime rolled around, I looked the two but didn't have the courage to approach them. I saw Karen sitting by herself and she looked far less intimidating, so I asked if I could join her and we had a lovely time talking about books and other things. We discovered that we both loved Dead Poets' Society and that we were both Christians. After that, we wrote letters to one another. She was “The Great Sea Serpent” and I was “Brer Seal”. I even went to visit her at her parents' house one time and was impressed by her room (it was covered in Thin Ice comic strips and she actually had a blue moon cushion). And she invited me to her 18th which was a flapper party.
I spent more time with her in the real world when she came to Wollongong Uni to study Creative Writing. I actually lived with her for a short period of time before pulling out of the honours program in Wollongong and moving back to Sydney. When I was back in Wollongong for MTS, she and I used to meet up to read the Bible or watch videos together. Now her health makes socialising quite difficult and, of course, it's harder now I'm back in Sydney again.
I met Kathleen for the first time when we picked her up from the airport in Melbourne. Is it a bit rash to agree to share accommodation with someone while on holiday having never met them? Well, that's exactly what we did. Kathleen was one of Deb's friends and apparently she was quite keen to meet me. She was the one who talked me into going to my first sci-fi/fantasy convention (Continuum 3) and then walked me through the whole rather bizarre experience. We had a great time in Melbourne, going shopping, visiting the art gallery, exploring little laneways and alleys, doing handicrafts (she taught me to crochet and I've since forgotten how) and reading Neil Gaiman's American Gods journal aloud to one another every night. (It was so nice to find someone else who likes reading things aloud!) I saw her again last year briefly when she was in Sydney during our carols service (where we ate hot dogs and then went out for gelato afterwards).
Her blog is full of things I love: books, craft (Kathleen knows how to bind books! She even made me a journal which is so beautiful I keep not wanting to use it), drawings, writing (she's the only one I know who's completed National Novel Writing Month) and descriptions of delicious ways to spend one's evening.
Larissa is a UNSW girl. She came to Word by Word once while it was being run by Greg and Tony. I can't remember when I found out she had a blog. She knew because I would occasionally puts links to it in my emails to the Christians in Arts mailing list. It's great she's blogging more now (even if it's a distraction from her PhD) because she has some interesting things to say about things like philosophy and natural theology.
Lorien is married to Ben A (so please refer back to the spiel about him to find out where I met her).
Current:
seen: Moon 15/10/2009
read: The Incredibles 11/10/2009
seen: She's the Man 05/10/2009
read: I Kill Giants (Joe Kelly and J. M. Ken Niimura) 04/10/2009
read: Astro City The Dark Ages Book 1: Brothers and Other Strangers (Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson and Alex Ross) 04/10/2009
seen: Children of Men 02/10/2009
seen: Metric (The Metro) 30/09/2009
seen: 500 Days of Summer 25/09/2009
seen: The September Issue 18/09/2009
seen: Gilmore Girls: Season 1 17/09/2009
read: Flight (Volume 1) (edited by Kazu Kibuishi) 16/09/2009
seen: Ponyo 11/09/2009
read: Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? (Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert) 05/09/2009
heard: Aimee Mann (Enmore Theatre) 04/09/2009
heard: Ben Folds Solo (Opera House) 31/08/2009
read: Phonogram: Rue Britannia (Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie) 26/08/2009
seen: Northanger Abbey 20/08/2009
read: The Princess Diaries (Meg Cabot) 18/08/2009
seen: The Phantom of the Opera 17/08/2009
seen: Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 10/08/2009
seen: District 9 10/08/2009
read: Shortcomings (Adrian Tomine) 02/08/2009
read: AIR Volume 1: Letters from Lost Countries (Willow Wilson and M.K. Perker) 28/07/2009
seen: Persepolis 25/07/2009
seen: Ghost Town 25/07/2009
heard: Gutter Twins (Seymour Centre) 23/07/2009
seen: Coco Avant Chanel 20/07/2009
seen: Gutenberg! The Musical (Seymour Centre) 16/07/2009
seen: So You Think You Can Dance? Australia Live Tour (Sydney Entertainment Centre) 11/07/2009
seen: Every Little Step 07/07/2009
seen: Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen 03/07/2009
seen: Synecdoche, New York 30/06/2009
seen: Charlie's Angels 27/06/2009
seen: Penelope 26/06/2009
seen: Coraline 10/06/2009
seen: The Sky Crawlers 08/06/2009
seen: The Bourne Ultimatum 07/06/2009
seen: The Bourne Supremacy 07/06/2009
seen: The Bourne Identity 06/06/2009
seen: Stick it 05/06/2009
Comment:
@Sarah: Thanks for the tip RE Australian Breastfeeding Association! I never would have thought to look there. Ditto KMart: I was wondering if they did since Target don’t.
@Rae: Thanks for the tip! I’ll check it out.
@Little Rachel: Oh, I’ll definitely be up for visitors! I may not be very good company (brain-dead, etc.) but I’ll certainly appreciate visits!
@Rachel C: CONGRATS!!! So excited for you 
Yours sounds like a good philosophy. One day I shall have to blog about Outliers!
@CafeDave: Thanks for the tip!
@Elissa: Thanks for your kind words! It makes me happy that you and Dave were excited we were getting married! Thanks also for the prayers!
@Elsie: There are lots of other lovely things I could have said about you, but let’s not overload my readers, shall we? ;P
Aww...thanks for the lovely things you said about me! I enjoyed reading this post (as I do with all yours). xo
Congratulations to you both. I know you will be such wonderful parents. You sound WAY too sensible! 
(Sorry to read that there were some unusual comments made about your marriage! We thought it was exciting. We still have a lovely photo of you & Ben in our lovely box of special memories. (I was only 22 when married & I was 30 when we had Bonnie...)
Everyone is different! I nodded through your post. SO many people feel the curious need to share their “horror stories” which is just dreadful. I remember complaining to David who said - go find people who are positive & listen to them. Great advice, which I did. Those people still have a big place in my heart because their advice was honest & gentle.
Bless you & Ben & the little Peanut. We pray all goes smoothly over the coming weeks/months ahead. We sometimes forget what a precious little miracle life really is…
Another book from the dad’s perspective I found helpful was From here to paternity - it’s an Australian book, and was followed up with a blog.
Hi!
I’m so excited for you reading your blog about being pregnant I am 13 weeks pregnant with #2.
You’re so right about all the pessimism “advice” that you get. I got so mad about it but never found a good response. I’ve had such joy right from day one with E that I just don’t want to buy into the negativity (I’m sure kids pick up on it too!).
My philosophy was/is to be a relaxed mum and from that figure out what was best for my baby/child. Get advice when you’re not sure on things or want to know how other people approached things, read books (loved Outliers!) that aren’t all about parenting… but just enjoy.
In a sample size of one to date, I’ve had such a happy, chilled out son right from day one. People say all the craziest advice… glad you don’t do guilt
With love,
R
Thanks so much for writing more! I love hearing how you’re going and all your thoughts.
After watching my sister I agree with you that it seems the first six months are perhaps the hardest. She got quite lonely at home all day; weekends were all right because then her husband was around but it’s just as you say… one feed ends then the next begins! If you are accepting visitors during this period then I hope to use some RDOs to come have grown-up conversations!
The book review of The Second Nine Months makes me want to read it now!
Names: We have one girl name that we both like and no boy names that we agree on. But they are also top-secret… so if anyone else uses them we can’t accuse them of theft! 
Yay Peanut, keep on growing, can’t wait to meet you!
Hello! Thanks for sharing
I loved reading your pregnancy update! I am glad to hear that things are all going pretty well, and I hope the rest of your 2nd trimester is as good.
I just wanted to add, that some other blokes decided that there was not much for the fathers-t0-be, and made a couple of DVD’s just for expectant dads. They are called ‘Being Dad’and i think they are available at big W. I have both though, if you would like me to send them!
Just wanted to wish you all the best!
Love
Rae
re: gluten: no idea!! I didn’t have to go on that diet - it was probably related to the test I didn’t do.
At the risk of adding to your list of advice:
Re: maternity bras - because I’m big I had to look hard for something nice in my size and discovered the Australian Breastfeeding Association. They have a massive range online and most are (dare I say it) sexy.
Re: maternity clothes - Kmart have a nice range of basic stuff.. I only found out towards the end of pregnancy and I would have liked to know earlier!
Re: Parenting classes - if you’re at RPA you can just ring the midwives section (they’ll put you through) and ask directly.
Congratulations again
Don’t laminate your ultrasound picture That is my advice.
Congratulations! This is so fantastic!
Thanks so much for sharing all of this… people swap engagement stories but rarely pregnancy stories! And it’s kind of similar don’t you think, all this excitement leading up to a big day!
So happy for you guys! Actually never been more excited for anyone except my sister! I think it’s because I think that you will both be amazing parents and love the idea that someone could grow up in your family.
Looking forward to many more posts on the topic.
Lovely news, Karen.
Thanks everyone! I will be sure to ask for help when I need it!
Great pic!! Peanut is cute! :D
Praying for you all!
xx
:D
I had a similar sort of morning sickness.. except I threw up! I’m suitably impressed that you coped OS.. that must have been tough.
It sounds like you’re doing marvelously otherwise!
Book recommendation on something a bit less technical and a bit more human: ‘Birth’ http://www.birthnet.com.au/
Praise be to God indeed! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
Congratulations, Beilharzen! Welcome to the slightly-bewildering world of pregnancy (and birth...and children...). God has blessed you greatly with this new life. We’ll be praying for Peanut’s growth and development, and for you guys as you prepare.
I’m sure you’re surrounded by baby veterans, but always happy to help with books/advice/recommendations/listening.
B&L;
Excellent job Karen! You SHOULD be pleased with yourself!
Have you discovered http://www.ravelry.com ? It is an excellent site with thousands of free patterns in its database, lots of support, tips, forums etc and of course - friends like me? Look me up when you get there - fionag77
PS Are you just wearing a bulky dress or are you sporting a bump under that dress?
oooh.... It’s done and it looks great on you! xxx
Well done on all that hard work! It looks great and will be very snuggly come winter!
Thanks for letting me know, Timo!
Hi there,
Thanks for pointing out the shortcoming on our website. I’ll pass it on to my colleagues and hopefully it will be rectified soon.
The documentary at Fashioning Now was by Holly Kaye-Smith; I’d be more than happy to put you in touch with her if you’d like.
Again, thanks for the comment, much appreciate it!
Kind regards,
Timo Rissanen
Thanks Mark! Much appreciated!
Rich survey, Karen. Particularly I was struck by the notion of Jesus being clothed with our sins. I heard recently somebody suggest the crown of thorns was a kings crown but it was made of the symbol of the curse in the Garden - thorns. I would like to read your thoughts about Joseph’s coat of many colours.
Looking forward to the next installment. Regards,Mark
It is lovely - and looks great on you.
You’ve made me want to read it - though I may need an interpreter at times!
Well done with the sewing!
I think it looks good - very relaxed and spring-y.
Hey Sandra! Thanks for the tip! I read it yesterday, but I struggled a bit because Lewis doesn’t start from the Bible. I wasn’t convinced by his argument. What did you think?
Interesting post Karen - Thanks
I like the ending too! :D
xxx
Fantastic post, Karen. Just great. Thanks!
Thanks Bec! Eternal life just keeps getting better and better ...
I do like the way you ended this post - excellent thought.
Personally I don’t feel that way. Maybe that’s something you should blog about?
Wow. Lots of things to pick up on there. It’s been interesting to see the changes to your blog these last 6-12 months: Twitter is certainly more immediate, but are there (gasp) downsides to having its constant buzz in the ear?
Is our (already fractured) ability to concentrate on a single relationship at a time further jeapordised by the regular buzz of tweetdeck (and worse yet, by the imagined sense of loss that goes with being off the grid)?
Or am I just projecting my own fears?
Hi Karen!
If you’re still thinking about this… I just read CS Lewis’s essay “Learning in War-time” which exactly addresses this issue (ie. how can we justify cultural & aesthetic pursuits when people are going to hell around us?). Have you read it? i’d be interested to hear what you think..
(i have it in his little volume “Transposition and other Addresses”, but it’s easily findable online)
I’m doing my own series on the trials and tribulations of writing on my own blog here http://sedshed.blogspot.com/search/label/From%20Head%20to%20Hand
It’s coming along slowly
Coincidentily, I stumbled upon the above Phonogram vs. the Fans cover when digging around for ID concepts for Salt. A disturbingly brilliant image.
Thanks Karen. At the very least, this post gives some context to your myriad of phonogram tweets. At best, it has reinvigorated my stagnated appreciation of comics.
Seriously, though 4,549 words. Is that the best you can do? I say, longer!
Blinks:
Why non-religious parents are starting to home school their children. Problems with American public schools. New models for education that will work (instead of just rote learning and teaching things to kids earlier).
Maybe discomfort is better for writing.
Showing her daughter that women are great by doing tours and walking in the footsteps of famous women. I like that this article is about engagement.
Jordan White, editor for Marvel, answers questions.
Jamie McKelvie answers questions.
Vision therapy as a treatment for ADHD, learning disabilities and even autism. The scientific community's opinion. The results of concentrated therapy.
Kieron Gillen on Phonogram, Siege, Ares, Loki and his collaborative relationship with Jamie McKelvie.
Superheroes and how they have changed the way we see urban landscape. Their attraction to New York.
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Comments
Aw, shucks.
Whenever anyone says ‘rash’, I remember the King in The Ordinary Princess who keeps walking around saying “rash! rash!”. That and the sign at the cafe downstairs advertising “rashes of bacon”.
USE THE JOURNAL. Then I can show you how to make another one
Oh, and have we really only met twice?
Yes, only twice in real life. How strange!
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