A review of Kaleidoscope by Patsy Clairmont

I received this book from BookSneeze several months ago and had the intent to read it and post a review by the following weekend.

The best laid plans and such...

In Kaleidoscope (a word that becomes increasingly more difficult to spell each time I write it), With chapter headings such as "Dem Bones" (related to Proverbs 15:30) and "Heavy Lifting" (related to Proverbs 10:29), Clairmont takes readers through a journey of the book of Proverbs using humor while still sticking to truth. At the end of each short chapter, she gives readers a few questions to consider (called "Bits and Pieces") and related verses from other parts of the Bible.

I loved the fact that she laid it out from the beginning that she isn't a Bible scholar, doesn't know Greek or Hebrew, and sometimes makes up words that don't exist! That sounded like something I would say, and it let me know from the beginning of the book that this wasn't going to be some dry study of Proverbs that left me more confused than when I started. She was funny yet thought provoking, and her ideas seemed to be Biblically sound. I haven't read anything else she has written, but after reading Kaleidoscope, I will check out more of her titles!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

So much for that...

Well, I didn't quite make the 30 day challenge. Nor did I finish out blogging in the month of March. Oops. Let's try this again from day 18...starting tomorrow! ;)

Day 17

Day 17: Something you're looking forward to

I'm so stinking behind on this, but this topic is related to the reason that I'm behind.

I'm looking forward to FINISHING GRAD SCHOOL (that's right...it needs to be in all caps!). For some reason, I had the brilliant idea to work on not one but two Masters degrees while working full-time. And, let's add the fact that I'm a HUGE (again with the big letters) procrastinator, and it just makes my life extremely difficult. I'm *supposed* to finish one degree in May (if I can get my act together) and the other in August 2012, so for now, that's what I'm looking forward to. On a smaller scale, I'm looking forward to summertime and maybe getting caught up on this in my lifetime. Ha.

Day 16

Day 16: Dream house

Ah, yet another thing that has been on my mind lately! Since I still live with my parents, I don't have the experience of renting or owning my own place, so I've been giving this topic a whole lot of thought. Right now my dream house is a townhouse or a condo. I don't want anything fancy, just basically a couple of bedrooms, a bathroom or two, kitchen, living room, etc. I would love to have an extra room to use as a workout room too. I'm pretty simple! :)

Day 15

Day 15: Bible verse

I really should've done this one yesterday because I was in such a grumpy pants mood that it would've been nice to have a little mental reset!

So I'm definitely no Biblical scholar. I have friends who can just pop off verses like they're quoting pop song lyrics (hmmm...what a weird comparison), but I'm not that good yet. With that in mind, there is a Bible verse that has been sticking with me because it relates to something I need to work on in my life. I'm not sure what translation this is from, but the words are powerful and relevant despite the translation. Maybe I need to post this on my computer monitor!

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

—James 1:19-20

Day 14

Day 14: A picture of you last year - how have you changed?

Wow, I'm so far behind! This has been a busy month so far, and I'm behind in everything! Oh well!

So the picture below is from last Easter...sometime in the beginning of April. It's a super-flattering shot (ha!). I think the only things that have really changed are my hair, and I've lost a little weight (but still want to lose more...sigh...). Anything else?

Day 13

Day 13: Goals

It's a little ironic to be blogging about goals since I'm currently procrastinating on working towards one of my goals...

My goals for 2011:

1. Finish my masters in education

2. Lose 30 more pounds (10 down so far!)

3. Be able to run a 10 minute mile (actually any running would be nice but that's a long term goal)

4. Participate in a half-marathon

5. Become actively involved in church

6. Work on my little punctuality problem

I think this is a good, round number. Number 6 is the toughest because it's not really a concrete goal. Oh well...

Day 12

Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without

I was pretty busy yesterday, so I was a little late. But here we go. I will not leave home without this little sucker here:

My phone is my lifeline. I've left home without my license, my debit card, and even my keys (when others were driving, of course!), but I don't think I've ever left home without my phone. I would feel absolutely useless without it...even if no one contacts me for days!

Day 11

Day 11: Favorite tv shows

Ooh, this one will be fun because I'm a tv fanatic!

1. The Simpsons- will always be one of my top shows, even when it's, um, not so good.

2. Modern Family- this show is hilarious! I don't think I've seen a bad episode of this one yet!

3. The Biggest Loser- It always makes me cry...and want to exercise...but I'm usually eating when I watch it!

4. The Big Bang Theory- And not just because this came up when I was searching for the BL logo!

5. 30 Rock- I was a little late to the game on this one, but I love it now!

6. 19 Kids and Counting- Guilty pleasure!!

There are actually A LOT more tv shows that I'm "hooked" on, but these are the ones that I always watch first on my DVR. I watch way too much tv!!

Day 10

Day 10: Something you're afraid of

Like many other females (sorry for the mass stereotyping, yo), I'm afraid of creepy, crawly things. I don't like them, and I get a little freaked out at the idea of them crawling around in my space when it's dark. Blech. However, unlike many other females (or rational people), I have an insane fear of crickets.

Yep, crickets.

Logically, I know that they're absolutely harmless, but there's just something about them that freaks me out! I don't know if it's their jumping skills, their long legs, or what, but I can't stand them. They like to get into our bathtub and hide out, and on many occasions, I have been in the shower only to have one jump out from behind the curtain. Double blech! I now do a thorough cricket check before I get into the shower!

Of course, I'm not a fan of snakes, spiders, etc., but crickets will always hold the top spot of ick in my book!

Day 9

Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend

Not only is this a little late (but you'll never really know that since my time is somehow set to the incorrect time zone...), but it's also a little sad because I don't know who I consider to be my best friend. At one point, I could've given two or three names, but now, as life drifts on, I'm really not sure who this person is. I have close friends. I'm close-ish to my mom, but none of these people are my true, blue, best friends who know everything about me and I about them. Sigh. What a depressing entry...

Day 8

Day 8: A place you've traveled to

Florida. The end.

(Clearly I'm not putting too much effort into this whole project...)

Day 7

Day 7: Favorite movies

I'm a comedy person pretty much through and through. In fact, I like to joke that I have a 12 year old boy's sense of humor (which makes me then make "To Catch a Predator" jokes to my poor boyfriend. Ha). So keep that in mind as I list my favorites...

1. Napoleon Dynamite

"Freaking Idiot!"

2. Old School

"Frank the Tank!!"

3. Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby

"Dear Baby Jesus..."

4. The Little Mermaid

"Poor unfortunate soooooooooulllllllllsssssssssss" (that's my Ursula impression...)

5. Toy Story 1, 2, 3 (still counts as one number though...my blog, my rules)

"To infinity...and beyond!"

6. Stranger Than Fiction

All of the good quotes are on my Facebook page!

7. That Thing You Do

For some reason VH1 used to play this pretty much every Saturday. My mom and I got so hooked on watching this silly movie!

8. The Simpsons Movie

Saw this bad boy in the theaters...about 4 times!

9. 10 Things I Hate About You

"I hate the way I don't hate you...not a little, not a lot, not at all..." When I was 16ish, every time I went to the movies with friends, we inevitably snuck back into this one!

I tried to think of a tenth, but it just wouldn't come to me tonight. Clearly, Will Ferrell and the Toy Story gang are my favorite actors! Will Ferrell and I have the same birthday, so I always feel that I have to support him...even when I think his movies suck (ahem Anchorman).