Bittersweet Sundays

China Owns Us

2010-11-22T19:00:00.000-08:00

Why is it that more people are not concerned with the money that Obama is spending? It seems like the liberal minded media is painting anyone with a concern as a right wing zealot. But the truth of the matter is that China basically owns us. We are in so much debt to them that I cannot see how Obama plans to pay that debt back. The only way to do it is to free up resources by NOT SPENDING!!! And I am so sick of people saying that the economy is better. The economy will not be 'better' in my book until unemployment goes down. It is still at over 9%. Check out this video. It is a commercial by Citizens Against Government Waste that has actually been banned in the US, but is still a hot topic on political blogs.

Never Knew I'd....

2010-10-28T15:30:00.001-07:00

...be 'starting' college at the age of 26.

I wonder if I will graduate before the age of 30. I also never knew I would graduate with a double major and almost enough bible credits to have a Biblical Studies degree as well. Crazy.

...single for so long.

Not that it bothers me. I guess I'm a late bloomer or something. Anyway, college will be a lot easier without a boyfriend.

...have kids so late in life.

I always claim that I won't have kids, but I know I will. I think it will just happen very late in life for me. Seeing as how I'm off to such a slow start with everything else.

...get fired from a job.

That was really out of left field. Although, in all fairness to me, mom and the other 498 people who got fired....who fires 500 people in one year?!?! There is obviously something else going on here.

...be working at a theatre!

I love my job, and I have not been able to say that about any other job I've ever had. I have HATED every job within 3 months of starting. Now here I am, over a year past my start date at the Dinner Theatre, and I still love it! Where else can you get all dressed up, have some cocktails, get free dinner and show, and CALL IT WORK?!?!?

So far, so good

2010-10-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

Well the semester is going well so far. Life is crazy busy, but I've managed not to get completely buried under the work load, and my grades are great. So things are going well. There are some crazy things that happen that make my days worthwhile. Today, I finished taking a rather large quiz and the prof collected them and then promptly hacked up a lung on them. That is one quiz I don't really want to get back!

I've also made some new friends this semester. We are a rather motley crew, but we've all been attracted to each other for one reason or another. Most of us transferred here last semester. And a few of us are commuters so we have some basic things in common. Randy I hardly ever see anymore. Boo. Hattie and I managed to schedule one class together. World Civ. We took our first exam today and as Bedford passed it out he said, "Ah. Veterans." I like him. We've adopted him as our grandpa. He just doesn't know it yet. Mackenzie is doing much better this year than she did last year. She was so sick last year that it was hard to get to know her. The Kenzie that we knew wasn't the real Kenzie. She fun. We do nothing but laugh together. Love it. Robbie is a new friend. We met last year, but didn't really know each other. He's a lot of fun too. Johnelle transferred from Wynona for the nursing program here. It's seems that almost all of my friends are in the nursing program. Soon , they will all be doing clinicals and I will be all alone. Not good. I suppose I will need to make all new friends. I will trade in the old set for the new one. OK, not really. I will miss them though.

Right now, I am being stalked by an almost deflated helium balloon. It was up at the ceiling. We came into the coffee shop, sat down, and it slowly made it's way over to us. We pushed it the other direction, but it is coming back. I think it likes me. I'm sure it has nothing to so with the airflow in the room.

Whirlwind

2010-09-09T10:39:00.001-07:00

The last few weeks have been an absolute whirlwind. I was supposed to drive to Canada the day after the Flash Mob was filmed (The the Flash Mob was very fun by the way; very successful). I made it about half way to Canada when my car started acting weird. I turned around to go home and broke down about 60 miles north of the cities. A mechanic in Rush City 'fixed' my car. Well he fixed it well enough for me to get about a mile from home...where it broke down again.

The second mechanic can't find anything wrong with it. Apparently it has some mysterious malady where it only breaks down when I drive it. He drove it and it ran fine. I've been without a car for a total of 18 days now. I haven't heard from the mechanic again, which is weird. It's possibly even weirder that I have not called him to check on it. I've been driving my grandma's car. She hasn't needed it the last two weeks, but next week she has a dr appointment and will need me to give it back to her. I'm at a complete loss here.

Anyway, as fun as that has been, she said dripping with sarcasm, there are some good things happening to counterbalance the sucky! School has started again! I'm enjoying my classes mightily. I'm taking New Testament History, Writing and Literature (my prof pronounced literature with a British accent; very funny), Gospel of John, Ecology (yuck), and World Civilizations to 1500. No choir this year. I can't pay for a class that won't even give me credits. Silly.

Writing and Lit is very hard. I took a quiz and got 81% on it. Very unlike me. I've heard this prof is one of the toughest if not the toughest on campus. Crazy. Of course he is my adviser as well.

Today Mackenzie, Hattie and I (and possibly Georgia as well) are going to Mocha Monkey. Mackenzie has never been there so we thought a field trip was in order. She has the money and I have the car. Sort of. I have grandma's car, which will get us there just fine.

Interestingly, and unrelatedly, HUD is making Jonathan Acres landscape the front of our neighborhood. The back isn't too bad. It could be better, but at least there is an abundance of grass. The front has been hideous for as long as I can remember. So they are tearing out all of the trees and 'grass'. They will replant everything and change some of the set-up. I'm excited to see the final look. I'm sure it won't be until next year though. The way they drag their heals is so annoying.

I took pictures for the 'before' and will continue to take them throughout the transformation. I sure will miss our trees though. They were the only things making the neighborhood bearable from an aesthetic perspective.

Flash Mob!

2010-08-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

We had our first rehearsal for our flash mob for work. Around 235 showed up and we hope they will all come back. The choreography is great, and the energy is palpable. We are going to be filming this in the main rotunda of the Mall of America. I think it's amazing that so many people showed up because they have a passion for dance, theatre or The Chan Dinner Theatre. I have always thought that life should be like a musical. This is about as close as it gets. It's as if hundreds of people will randomly spring into dance at the same time! Fantastic! I haven't danced in a long time. It made my quads really sore. When did I get old? Good grief.

Our first rehearsal was at the new Chan high school. The second one will be this Friday at the Chaska high school. The actual thing will take place on Sunday. I am so pumped!

The 4th and More

2010-07-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

We had a good time over the 4th of July. We went to Mark and Patty's for a little grilling, game playing, and pirotechnics. They gave a great view of the Lake Ann fireworks from their parking lot. Kaity, Eva, Abbie and I played Wii for a good chunk of the night. We also played a really fun game called Dumb Ass. I love trivia games. They are the best.

When I got home I went straight to bed. I'd only had a few hours of sleep the night before and I had to get up for work this morning. However, around 2:30 in the morning I was dragged (kicking and screeming) out of a very deep sleep. The neighbors were playing a very loud game of drunken volleyball right under my bedroom window. Seriously...Pissed...I laid there for a while trying to ignore it, but finally had to say something. They were very nice about it. They moved to around the corner and were just as loud over there, but at least I could get to sleep.

I had a really strange dream though. I dreamt that Kaity and I locked someone we know in the trunk of our car and then we got caught. It was awful. Then the dream suddenly changed and Kaity was the one that had been locked in the trunk and we were no longer friends. Very Bizaar.

A Few More Things...

2010-06-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

40. I'm very dramatic (like you didn't already know that)

41. I don't really have a favorite movie. I enjoy almost all genres, except for horror, so it's hard to pick just one.

42. I'm really ditzy, yet I get fantastic grades and have a very high GPA. Go figure.

43. I love handbags. I don't have enuogh of them.

44. I love singing. I sing all day long. I don't even notice when I'm doing it.

Frustration

2010-06-09T13:34:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to get a new template for my blog. I've found a few that I like, but I don't know how to upload them. It's incredibly frustrating. I'm not technologically inclined yet something like this should be simple enough. Arg!

I am also bummed today because a new show I started watching was canceled. Flashforward. I read that it got bad reviews. I can't figure that out though. It was new, exciting and well done. But I suppose there is no accounting for taste.

Tomorrow night some of the Emery's are going to Footloose at the Dinner Theatre. It should be fun. I think they will really like. There are a few new cast members since I last saw it in February. I am glad the one girl left. She became pregnant. I didn't like her anyway. I hope they girl they got to replace her is good. There is nothing worse than going to a show and having to sit through a bad performance. I'm exited to see Marty. I got to know him after I last saw it and it will be interesting to watch him play the mean and somewhat abusive uncle knowing how NOT like that he is in real life.

More later....

And all that jazz...

2010-06-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

I had a great weekend. It began on Thursday night when some friends from work went to the Wabasha Street Caves to celebrate a birthday. We got dressed up in 20's-40's era clothing, did a tour of the Caves, then danced the night away!

The Caves are located along the river in St. Paul. They are made of natural sandstone and were originally used by Native Americans before European settlers came to the area. They were used as a mushroom farm, but the owners turned it into a speakeasy when prohibition laws went into effect.

St. Paul's' Chief of Police, during prohibition, made it known to criminals of the day that as long as no crimes were commit ed within the city limits, they could walk the streets in broad daylight with no fear of being arrested. Obviously, St. Paul quickly became a popular hangout for criminals from around the nation.

Our tour guide told us a story of a 93 year old woman on one of her tours who shared an interesting story with their tour group. She said that the last time she had been in the Caves was on her 19th birthday. That was the first time anyone was allowed to go out unchaperoned in her family. She and her friends got all dolled up and hit the town with gusto. While at the Caves a tall, dark, hansom (cliche I know) stranger asked her dance. Her friends scuttled off the bar while she twirled the dance floor with stars in her eyes. When the dance ended she promptly found her friends and began to gush about the handsome stranger. The bartender, noticing who she was referring to, asked her if she knew who the man was. When she and her friends replied that they didn't, he leaned in and said conspiratorially, "That's John Dillinger." The caves were reported to host many a nefarious character including Dillinger and Ma Barker.

In the tumultuous days of prohibition, knowing someone was the only way to be accepted in the criminal community. One night four men, who no one knew, showed up for a drink and a game of poker. The game was intense and the owners began asking people who they were. The only answer anyone had was that they had entered with the band and were carrying instrument cases. Guitar cases...violin cases...and such. As their game grew in intensity people began to get nervous. Guests started to leave and the owners wondered how to kick men out who were likely to shoot you in the face. Finally, the owners came up with a perfect solution. They would go home where it was safe and leave the cleaning lady to lock up after them. Back in those days, the depression was raging and the woman was happy just to have a job. Not wanting to be in the same room with the men however, she took herself off to the bar to wait for them to leave. But soon an explosion of gunfire and screaming ended the poker game. When all fell, silent the woman quietly went to see what happened. The room the men were in had three bodies on the floor, blood all over, upturned tables, broken china, and bullet holes up one wall, across the ceiling and then down the opposite wall. She ran to call the police, then plopped herself down in front of the only exit and chain smoked until they arrived. It took the police an hour and a half to come from eight blocks away. When they arrived, they headed straight to the back room where the murders happened. The woman kept her seat near the only door and finally, another two hours later, the police came to speak with her. They told her that if she filed a false report again she would be in big trouble. When she returned to the scene of the crime the bodies (and blood) were gone, the walls were clean and patched, the tables were all set with pristine china and the cops were looking at her like she'd gone round the bend. She tried to convince them of what had happened, but they continued to deny it and threaten her. Once they left she scoured the room for any evidence of what had happened. All she could find were small imprints from the bullets in the stone fireplace. Those imprints are there to this day.

The Caves are rumored to be one of the most haunted locations in the state of Minnesota. The History channel did a show on them. They brought in forensic scientists and who all claim that the imprints in the fireplace are from bullets. More specifically that they are from Thompson Sub-machine Guns. Not far behind them was a long string of psychics all claiming that the bodies were buried on site, in some of the unused caves. When we did the tour we saw the spot where they are supposedly buried.

It was incredibly fascinating. We found out while we were there that they also do extended gangster tours of St. Paul on Saturdays. We were convinced on the spot to attend one of them.

But the fun didn't stop there. Friday and Saturday night I stayed at Barb Kocka's house because Tom is in Canada and she didn't want to be alone. I think we watched about 10 episodes of Dawson's Creek this weekend. I love that show. I never watched it while it was on TV, but now I am completely hooked! I also got to hang out with mom and Kaity this weekend, so it was an all around good couple of days.

More Things About Me

2010-04-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

30. I love being a student

31. My job at the Dinner Theatre is the only job I've had that I haven't hated.

32. I just got about a foot of hair cut off.

33. I don't like modern archetecture at all. I think it's really ugly.

34. I'm fitting in at school better than I thought I would.

35. When I'm done with school I will have 3 bachelor's degrees. That's kind of a lot, but I think it will be great.

36. I crave salty food more than sweet food.

37. One of my favorite scents is vanilla.

38. I'm thoroughly addicted to chai tea.

That's all that I can really think of right now.

God Paints

2010-04-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

I saw the most amazing sunset yesterday. I love clouds. I always want to paint them at sunset, but I know I'll never be able to paint as well as God.

What a Crazy Week!

2010-04-03T12:05:00.000-07:00

This last week has been absolutely mad! I've had quite a few HUGE assignments due for school, and my oldest nephew stayed with us. I had a huge misterm in Old Testament History. There were 25 multiple choice, 5 short answer (we had to write 2 paragraphs per question to get an A), and 1 essay where we had to summarize the Old Testament (Gen-Ruth). My hand actually felt crippled after that test. I hand wrote 6-7 pages. I think it went well though. It's killing me not knowing my grade!

Then I had a big research paper due for World Civilizations. I did it on Josephine de Beauharnais, Napoleon Bonapartes first wife. I had a hard time finding info on her so the research part of the assignment was kind of difficult. The paper really should not have been called a research paper. It was really more of a creative writing assignment.

Having Malachi stay with us was really fun. I felt bad for him that he was so sick while he was here though. It started while he was with his otehr grandma. She bought some cough medicine for him and I got Children's Mortin (at Sara's suggestion) which made a huge difference. He was able to sleep a little better after that. However, I saw on Sara's FB that he was really sick again today, after being so much better yesterday. Poor guy. The house was so chaotic with the whole family being over. I left for work while they were all there, and when I got home it was so quite I hardly knew what to do! I watched a movie with mom, but it was strange to see all of the toys laying around with no one to play with them. Our house turned into the Island of Misfit Toys!

Ok. That's all for now. More later!

It's been eons!

2010-02-15T12:43:00.000-08:00

It has been forever since I've blogged. I have been very busy with work at the Dinner Theatre (we're still going! YAY!) and with school. I feel so incredibly blessed to be here at Crown. I feel like I am doing well in all of my classes. I know that in at least two of my classes I have 100% or higher. What a grand adventure this is! I've always pictured my life a certain way. Reality never matched my dreams but they are finally starting to align. Thank you Lord for making this wonderful think happen in my life.

I've been learning quite a lot here at school. My favorite classes are...well...all of them for one reason or another. In World Civilizations we learned about the Reformation (Protestant) and the Enlightenment. Now we are blazing our way through the Atlantic Revolutions. Very interesting stuff.

In Old Testament History we've read through and studied Genesis and Exodus and will be starting in on Leviticus tomorrow. I can honestly say I've never read it before. That I know of...

I have a speech class that I would hate but for the Prof. He is also my English Composition Prof. I really like how casual he is. Our Eng Comp class has only 9 students in it. We go at our own pace and are able to do some really different and fun things due to the small class size.

Oh...I have math too. That's not my favorite. It is a basic math class that just touches on different concepts. Right now we are working with fractions. It's a lot of review from 7th grade, but I have forgotten most of it.

Choir is amazing. I love signing with a group like this again. It's been a long time. I had a brief stint with the Community Choir in Chaska. But this is a whole new level of choir. Most of the students are Music majors. I'm really fortunate to have been accepted. The audition would have been scarier if I'd known there was a chance of not making it! A friend of mine auditioned and then was put in the men's choir. I really like singing with them.

Ok...that was a brief update. I need to go to class now. I will try to blog more often.

How To Pray

2009-10-12T20:17:00.000-07:00

I've always been the type of pray-er who is afraid to ask for specific things from God. I don't know if I'm afraid that he won't answer me the way I want and I will be let down or if I'm just really concerned about praying for things that are within his will for my life. I think it's a little of both. Recently while hearing scripture from the book of John I realized that we need to ask for WHAT WE WANT! Jesus said that what we pray for in His name will be granted to us because God wants us to be happy. This was a revelation for me. I started praying, "God help me see how I can go to Crown so that I can learn more about you and the Bible." I felt good. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of me. God really does want me to be happy!

But I just Googled 'praying for specific things' and am right back where I started.

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14)

So how do I know if I am praying in accordance with his will? And is it his will that I go to Crown? I wish I hadn't read that. I feel like I had a whole new lease on faith and now I'm right back where I started. I'm back to praying in hope, not in faith.

Jesus said,

"Ask that your joy may be complete"

But James said,

"You ask for something but do not get it because you ask for it for the wrong reason-for your own pleasure."

I'm so confused...

Ugh...

2009-10-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

Today we had a meeting with the man who is buying the Dinner Theatre. He said that everyone will be terminated and then need to re-interview. I don't think this bodes well for us. To me it seems like a person would only do that if they were planning on cleaning house. He hinted that most of us would be able to keep our jobs but this just can't be good. I'll just keep my head down and do what I can to go up and above what's expected of me.

A Bad Day Turned Good

2009-09-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

I was having such a bad week. I wasn't hearing back about the job I interviewed for and I have no idea what I am going to do about school. I was getting really down when I decided instead of asking God, "What do you want from me?!?!" I should be asking Him, "What do you want FOR me?"

I really felt like things were starting to come together. I have felt so incredibly useless since I lost my job. I suppose that is normal. A person probably goes through the same stages of grief as they do when they suffer a real loss. Because it is a REAL loss dang it! I seem to have been stuck on the 'depression' stage for a while now. You have all sorts of security one moment and the next moment...you find yourself with no reason to get up in the morning. Nothing to look forward to in your day.

Then finally I got this interview at the Chan Dinner Theatre. I knew the woman doing the interview and there is an employee under her who knows me well and who, more importantly, knows my work ethic. He told her that she's be crazy not to hire me. She also said some very promising things about a possible great fit at the end of our interview. She left me with promises to get back to me at the beginning of this week.

As Monday came and went I wasn't too worried. Come Tuesday I was really expecting a call. Every time the phone rang I was sure it would be about the job.

Wednesday, today...I started to panic. I thought for sure that she decided to hire someone else and was just afraid to tell me. Finally as I was getting out of the shower I heard the phone ring and the answering machine pick up. It was the Chan Dinner Theatre! It turns out the reason she didn't call sooner is that she wasn't at work the last two days!

I was so relieved when she offered me the job! I can't wait to start. And the great thing about working in the box office at the theater is that I get to...have to...see every show they produce!

What a terrible perk. How can they do that to their employees?....

: )

You know what would be weird?

2009-09-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

If we were made of cloth.

If I were a piece of luggage...

2009-09-13T16:06:00.000-07:00

What would I look like?

More things about me you may or may not have known

2009-09-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

20. I once had to visit the ER in Waconia because I got a hair stuck wrapped around my tongue. It was Halloween. Weird.

21. I love chicken. It's so versatile.

22. My favorite season is fall because my conservative dress style fits the best. I wear sweaters even in the summer. Like the picture here shows. --->

23. I wish I could paint clouds but I'm so afraid to try because I know I won't be able to make them as beautiful on canvas as they are in real life.

24. I'm very weepy. Mom asked me today if I had raging hormones but I feel pretty even keel...except that I feel like I could cry at a moments notice. I cried when Regis and Kelly gave away a trip. They give someone the chance to win one every day! It's so generous. I just can't stand it!

25. I've always wanted to live in a castle. Nothing huge. I'm not fussy.

26. I love color but almost always buy neutral colored clothes so they will all match everything I already own.

27. I'm a lot less compassionate than I would like to be.

28. Just when you think you can't get fatter...you gain 50 lbs.

29. All the women in my family got married at 19 (those who are married that is) except my sister (and my now-cousin Abbie). She waited until she was 20. I'm the black sheep.

Another Update (I haven't blogged in so long I can't fit it all into one post!)

2009-08-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

I missed the last day of registration for school last Thursday thanks to being ill. A few people told me that Crown would most likely accept late registration, which had already occurred to me, but I was also not able to finalize my loan. I was really disappointed by this but was too sick to fix it. Not only would tuition be due at the end of this week but I know it would be impossible for me to get around campus and stand in line at the bookstore and do all the things that would be needed in order to start this semester (not to mention sitting in class). I've been sitting at the computer for about an hour and a half and I feel like I might fall over. School will not work this fall but this just means that I will be extra prepared when spring comes!

Mom and Sara and I think this is a spiritual attack. I am finally on the course that I believe God wants me to be on and Satan wants none of that. I've been adrift for 5 years and he much prefers me that way! Well this won't keep me down. I need to just rise to the occasion and keep in mind that all things are possible through Christ!

Bad Week

2009-08-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

Well today marks the ninth day since I got sick. Last Monday I woke up thinking I had the flu. By Tuesday I was pretty sure I was dying so mom drove me to urgent care. We stopped at four places before we found a clinic that was open and willing to treat me. But after just a few minutes there I was told I needed to be taken to the ER by ambulance. Guess we should have just headed there first. Would have saved time and money. Hind-sight is 20/20 right?

They gave me a saline drip (three bags by the time the night was over) and some anti-nausea medicine then left me to wait there for the DR. The ER was incredibly busy. Most of the time I just lay in my bed listening to the hubbub on the other side of the curtain. People chatted, high heals clicked, a printer whirred, a little boy bawled and an old man grumbled. And there was some machine that made a sound like crickets.

After much waiting, and assurances by a nurse that I was not forgotten, they started tests. A urinalysis, a blood test and a CT Scan showed that the only thing really wrong with me was a little bit of dehydration. It was very marginal so it wasn't causing the dizziness I felt every time I moved my head. After looking in my right ear and seeing a bit of clear fluid the DR concluded that the Vertigo was most likely caused by extreme allergies but that there was no way to say for sure. She sent me home with a prescription for Meclazine (comparable to Dramamine) and said to take Claratin and Suedafed.

The rest of the week was spent SLOWLY recovering. Today I woke up feeling like the room was still for the first time in 9 days! I haven't been able to cook, clean, read (can you believe it?!?!?), register for school, finalize my loan, shower, do laundry, sit up (for more than an hour at a time) or drive in over a week.

And I find myself frustrated that people are adapting an attitude of, "You're dizzy? Big deal!" Unless a person has experienced Vertigo (for real) they have absolutely no idea how completely debilitating it is. When your body doesn't know if it's upside down, right side up or side ways for 9 days it's pretty impossible to do anything.

It's going to be a very slow recovery. If it were just the Vertigo that I was battling I think I would be fine now that the dizziness has abated some. But the fact that I had the flu and severe allergies at the same time make this a real b*tch to get over. You don't get stuck on your back for over a week, rendered weak as a babe, and then just jump up and get over it like it never happened.

All I ask is that you please try to understand and respect the fact that I know what is best when it comes to my health and what I can handle at this point.

Close Encounter of the Third Kind

2009-07-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

I've had two close encounters with deer lately. The first was a lovely and surprising experience.

I was crouched down in the tall grass concentrating on getting the perfect shot when I heard a loud rustling sound. Something was in the grass coming toward me quickly. I rushed back to the path so that if I got attacked I could at least see my assailant before they tore me to shreds. That was when this deer came bounding by! I stood there, mouth agape, watching, amazed at my closeness to nature. It wasn't until it was almost too late that I thought, "Don't just stand here! Use the camera in your hand!" I wish my first though had been of getting a photograph of it. I was lucky to get even this.

My second encounter was not so pleasant yet just as surprising!
I was driving south on Hwy 41 when a deer ran our in front of my car. I didn't have time to react. I felt bad for hitting it. I was much more concerned for the deer than my car. Lucky the deer got up and ran off and my car is only a little dented. Nothing major was done. I hope it is ok. I know realistically it probably died but it's so much nicer to believe that it survived. My aunt Patty said that it probably had really resourceful woodland friends, like Bambi. I like that.

See it's really not too bad. Just a little wrinkle in the hood! I used to hate that my car is white but it hides most of the damage unless you are standing at the right angle.

Now I'm wondering....will there be a third encounter? If so what form will it take?

Adventure

2009-06-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

I drove to Northfield for a wedding yesterday.

I got lost.

I saw some cows.

I found a new place called Cannon City. This is it.

But eventually I made it.

We had lots of fun...

Playing Black Jack...

Dancing...

Eating cupcakes...

And making silly faces for the camera!

Another surprise!

2009-06-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

I learned that I received another money gift for school. It's a Crown Grant. I think it's because I go to a C&MA church (way to figure that out Kaity!). Crown is the same denomination. So my Crown scholarships and grants are up to $8,000 a year!!!

LOVING IT!

Next 10 Things

2009-06-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

101 Things About Me cont...

11. I'm afraid of change so I drag my heals. But I know that change is good. I just can't be rushed.

12. I have a freckle shaped like a star.

13. I'm awful at keeping in touch with people and often feel lots of guilt over it.

14. My favorite flowers are lilies and orchids but I'm horribly allergic to pollen.

15. I like to write. I like to give my opinion even when it's not wanted so a blog is a good outlet for me.

16. Teresa has a cute house. That's not really about me, but I've been thinking on it over the last....day.

17. I love to travel. My favorite show is possibly Rick Steves' Europe. He's super nerdy but I love his show. Check out his website. He's got all sorts of great information if you are going on a trip. www.ricksteves.com

18. I think I have a small crush on Chris Pine. Suddenly I like Star Trek. Weirder than weird.

19. I CANNOT wait for the next Harry Potter/Twilight movie! I will be planning a New Moon party for my b-day. You must all come.

20. I sometimes wonder what I would look like with hot pink hair. If my hair didn't take so long to grow out I might almost try it. That would go over well at an ultra-conservative Christian college I'm sure.

More later!

First Ten Things

2009-06-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

I saw this on another blog and thought it was an excellent idea. I get to tell you little tidbits about myself that you may or may not be interested in. I think it would be difficult to think of all 101 things in one sitting so I will split them up into 9 groups of 10 and one group of 11.

Here we go!...

101 things about me

1. I was a cheerleader for 3 years. I made captain my senior year and then quit after fall season to free up more time for theater.

2. I tell everyone that I hate beets but I have never tried them. Or if I have I blocked the memory and so probably do hate them.

3. I love to read. This is no big secret. My favorite book (not including any series' that I read) is called The Miracles of Santo Fico. It's about a man who left the small Italian village he grew up in at a young age and comes back after 15 years to find that the village is dying. He cooks up three scheme's believing if it becomes known that the village of Santo Fico is home to a miracle it will bring visitors in. He spends a few weeks trying to manufacture a miracle hurting his loved ones in the process. The book ends with him, totally unsuccessful in the miracle making department but with a whole new love and appreciation for life...and a genuine miracle of Biblical proportions.

4. I can't wait to do the Study Abroad program at Crown.

5. I secretly like Brittany Spears' Toxic.

6. I could play the piano better but I am lazy about practicing.

7. I want to learn another language. Italian or French.

8. My sister is moving away (she's lived in Dallas for the last 6 or 7 years but she and John will be moving over seas soon enough as John just got a job as an FSO with the State Department) and I am going to miss her like crazy.

9. I have a feeling that there is some sort of greatness hiding in me. Not sure how it will manifest itself but it's there.

10. I don't have a favorite food.

That's all for now. I will post the next ten things about me at a later date.

Good News!

2009-05-31T18:39:00.001-07:00

I got a letter from Crown saying they will be giving me a scholarship because of my good grades and my involvement in my church and the community. It was completely unexpected! They are awarding me $4,000 to be split up over my first two semesters and then each year they will review my information and keep awarding me money if they feel I deserve it. I am getting really excited for school. It will be more exciting once things really start to happen. Kaity said I shouldn't buy anything for school until I look through her stuff because she has a bunch of notebooks and writing utensils. That should help. Those things really add up.

Wise Words

2009-05-11T21:44:00.001-07:00

Never get a full service car wash with a body in your trunk.

Op zoek naar Maria - Dans in het Centraal Station van Antwerpen

2009-04-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq6b9bMBXpg

This may have been filmed for a TV commercial in Belgium. I'm having a hard time finding information on it. Cute though.

Attraction

2009-04-08T12:55:00.000-07:00

My dad told me some interesting things about how women and men are attracted to each other. Or, more specifically what they are attracted to and why. It's very interesting. Women are attracted to a scent that men put out. And I had heard this before. Without even realizing it you can smell it and you are attracted to certain men because of it. Here is an excerpt from The Med Guru on a study done at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia:

"Pheromones, a complex compound...triggers a strong involuntary effect on females making them feel more relaxed, researchers claim.

Adding to it, on further exposure to the odorless pheromones the discharge of the luteinizing hormone - one responsible for controlling the menstruation in women - sped up.

More interesting, these chemicals...also discourage close relatives from getting attracted to each other, thus suppressing inbreeding. An important player in sexual attraction - the human genome called the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), it is believed that women can deduce when a man's MHC is different from their own."

Men are attracted to women with big boobs (generally...but not always) and hips because it is about care giving. Everything about what men and women are attracted to and why is about reproduction. It is inherent in every living thing to preserve something of themselves in the way of reproduction. Men want women who will be good mothers so they look for the caregiver type. Women always joke about how men look for 'their mother' in a mate but the truth is they just want someone who will be a good mother for their children. They are also more attracted to women who are at the height of ovulation. Oprah did a show on this topic. They recorded a few women counting to 10 at three times during the month and each man said the voice he was most attracted to was the recording of when the women were ovulating! Apparently our voices are slightly higher at that time. And they look for these things completely subconsciously. The real doozie about attraction is that with the scents and stuff is that you are basically attracted to people with opposite immune systems. That way when you reproduce you are getting the healthiest children possible!

Very interesting...

Party...School...

2009-04-07T16:44:00.000-07:00

Well, we had a 'not so surprised' b-day party for my dad. He turns 50 tomorrow. My parents are so young! They are years younger than the parents of my younger friends. But I think it helps us to relate in ways that my friends can not relate to their parents. The party was a lot of fun. Cindy had a masseuse give free massages. It was the first message I received from a professional. It made me feel very relaxed. I made a scrapbook for dad and Sara got him two CD's. Pink Floyd isn't bad. I never would have guessed!

I got my application to Crown submitted after some confusion about the ACT's and whatnot. I'm anxious to receive a reply from them. I hope I am accepted. I think I should be very disappointed if I'm not. We'll have to wait and see as it's possible they are on spring break at the moment.

Patience is a virtue I do not naturally possess.

Pay It Forward

2009-04-02T20:56:00.000-07:00

I got this off of my sisters blog! I was the first to reply to her. So leave a comment on my blog and see what I make for you!

1. Be one of the first THREE to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!

2. Winners must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift - anything! - for the first three bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send your THREE friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And remember, it's the spirit and the thought that counts!

4. When you receive your gift, feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love!

If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward and encourage your blogging friends to do the same!

Update on Kaity

2009-03-31T13:55:00.000-07:00

She was sent home with her parents from the hospital last night. Her blood pressure was back to normal by the time she got there, but they still wanted to have someone watching over her. She will only need to be admitted to the hospital if she starts throwing up, because then her body won't retain the meds they gave her.

Thanks for all the prayers everyone! You've been very supportive.

Kaity

2009-03-30T15:37:00.000-07:00

She is very sick right now. They think it might be a kidney infection. I just got off the phone with her and she is being held prisoner at the doctor's office. They wanted her to go to the hospital by ambulance but she wouldn't do it. her blood pressure is 82/46 (or thereabouts). So she's sitting there waiting for her parents to come and get her. She's not sure if she will have to stay at the hospital overnight or not. If so mom and I are going to go visit her. She said she's going to Regions. Of course it's got to be on the other side of the cities. And if she is admitted overnight I'm sure mom and I will get out there and we won't be able to find it. We'll get lost 5 times and then we won't have money for parking and then visiting hours will be over! We'll look like total idiots. That's just the way it works.

Bvlgari Green

2009-03-27T12:24:00.001-07:00

How sad am I? I've been obsessing over the Stephanie Plum novels for years now and everyone who reads them knows how yummy Ranger smells. That's like...his thing. He's Mr. Mysterio and he smells delicious. Well some of the mystery has been solved. Apparently his housekeeper buys him Bvlgari shower gel in the Green Tea scent. Seeing as how I'm not about to run out to Macy's, Nordstrom's, or Bloomie's to get it I ordered some on-line!!! I can't wait to smell it!

Intersting Tidbit

2009-03-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

My dad has an interesting entry on his blog with some quotes by Charles Darwin. Here is one of them:

“To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.”
-Charles Darwin

I thought I would just share that with you all.

Biblical Curse Generator

2009-03-24T19:17:00.001-07:00

Ok, this is funny. I found this link on my church website. Someone has a good sense of humor. This website generates stinging insults from phrases in the Bible to fling at your unsuspecting enemies! Some examples:

"May you see your pomegranates wither, O thou sad Pharisee!"

"I pray thou shalt be pursued into the mountains by sex-mad baboons, thou sulfurous nonentity!"

"Woe unto thee, O thou love-child of Methuselah, for you will be swallowed by a whale with excessively bad breath!"

Seriously....check it out...

http://ship.saintsimeon.co.uk/curses/index.html

College

2009-03-24T18:28:00.001-07:00

So I think I have come to a decision about College. I'm half way through an application to Crown College in Waconia (whoa! I just looked them up and they are in St. Boni...not sure why that shocks me so much). It's a really good school (expensive) but I currently have no debt so I'm at a good place in life to do this. And I would really like to graduate before I turn 30.

I'm not sure what I want to study. My friend Lori and I sat down and did a MN Non-Profit job search right after I lost my job and there was a position that sounded perfect for me. They were looking to hire someone who would do event planning, media PR, and some technical writing for pamphlets and brochures. That sounds like a great job; like it would incorporate all of the things that I really like to do. We looked at other jobs as well and they all seemed to require a bachelors degree in Marketing/Communications. And it just so happens that Crown offers a Communications degree. I could get a writing or English minor and I would be set!

Well I'm really getting pumped up about this. I have been pretty down this last month, mainly because I have nothing to do and because I feel like the last 5 years have been a complete waste of time. But Kaity told me that's not true. She's so positive. Sometimes it's annoying (like when I feel like being pessimistic) but it's always good! She always knows what to say to cheer me up. She told me that now I know certain things about myself. I know what I will be willing to do and what I will not be willing to do. That is very true. I have learned quite a lot about life, myself, people, and business over the last 5 years. I think if I had tried to finish school back when I started it I would have ended up making bad choices. I didn't know myself well enough to make life long decisions. So tomorrow I need to get my high-school transcript and my ACT scores and then I can finish up my application. I'm a bit nervous about being accepted. My pastor said that they don't have very high acceptance requirements. On one hand I'm relieved that my chances of being accepted go up. But on the other hand getting accepted might not be that great an accomplishment so I'm not sure I should get too excited about it!

I would just love to have you all to my college graduation. I can't wait!!!

This hits home and makes me want to cry

2009-03-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

"Time passes. Even when it seems impossible. Even when each tick of the second hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but pass it does. Even for me."

-New Moon

Opening Night!

2009-02-13T11:00:00.000-08:00

Our show opens tonight! We had our preview for some elementary school students yesterday. They were such a sweet audience! I think a lot of the humor and content of the show was over their heads but they sure did love to clap and cheer. Especially for Megan (Maria). She is a teacher and her class was there. It was so cute seeing them all pile on stage to take a picture with her! The show itself was great yesterday. We were told that it looks like we've been performing it for weeks already. That is a great compliment. Everything fell into place. I am so excited for tonight when we will have an adult audience to laugh at the jokes though. It's hard keeping it funny when no one is laughing. We've all seen it so many times that unless someone changes something it's all sort of stale to us. Well, I'll keep you updated! Hope to see you all there!

www.cvft.org for tickets.

Sick

2009-02-11T09:52:00.001-08:00

Well I'm sick again and our show opens tomorrow. Actaully a lot of us in the cast are under the weather. Tomorrow's show is just for some high school kids. But I hope we seem lively instead of like we all need to lay down! The woman who plays Maria is just getting over a sinus infection and the flu. Awesome. Should be interesting.

Danny Boy

2009-01-26T15:11:00.001-08:00

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU

RW Bavaria

2009-01-24T16:21:00.000-08:00

I've been looking on the internet trying to find out more about the china that was from my great grandma Simmons. When uncle Gail died cousin Marcia gave me two pieces. One for me to keep and one for Sara if she wants one. They are beautiful and I would like to see if I could find more, maybe on e-bay. Here is what the china looks like.

And here is a picture of Anna (Kreumling) Simmons that I got from aunt Irma before she died.

I have to say, I like her taste in china. I know of a few other pieces in the family. Seeing as how they wouldn't make a full set all together they might as well be spread around for as many people to enjoy as possible.

Sara, you should let me know if you want either the vase or the bowl.

Malachi

2009-01-23T10:27:00.001-08:00

My nephew is SO CUTE!.....

Gabriel: My mommy jumps!

Carter: My mommy jumps too!

Katie (director of pre-school): Malachi, does your mommy jump too?

Malachi: No, my mommy is Sara!

Sound of Music

2009-01-21T13:25:00.000-08:00

I love my part in this play! It is so much fun to be a nun. We got sort of squirlly last night at rehearsal and were talking about all of the cool ways for the nuns to exit at the end of the show. We progressed from all of us getting attached to a bar and being raised up off the stage to us flying out through the house, to us turning into bats and flying away! Theater people are truly strange. Well all silliness aside, the nuns have some very beautiful music in this show. There is so much that was cut out of the movie. I'll have to post some pictures of rehearsals...later...while I'm not at work...

Sick

2009-01-10T12:30:00.000-08:00

I've been sick for 4 days. I've spent the majority of the time in bed and laying on the couch watching movies. But I've decided that if I need to be sick this is the right time for it. Jenna's wedding is over and we've just started play rehearsals. Hopefully by the time the show opens I will be 100% again and won't have gotten anyone else sick as well. Kaity came over to loan me a new book in a series that we like to read. That should give me something to do at least.

My Dream....

2008-12-13T08:34:00.000-08:00

I've just woken up from the strangest dream. It was so bizarre that I couldn't resist the urge to share it with you.

Dream in....

I was late as usual. What was wrong with me? I was going to single-handedly ruin this show. I practice but for some reason every time I rehearse the moves it's as if I've never done them before. I yanked open the door leading backstage hoping that because there will be 5 of us no one will focus on the dunce in the back who moves a fraction of a second later than the other girls. I didn't wait for my eyes to adjust to the dark. Ropes and curtains were a blur as I dashed onto the stage where my cast-mates were already rehearsing. The tall blond gave me a look of relief that I wasn't sure had anything to do with my skills as a dancer but the fact that she would no longer need to listen to the director rant about me being late again. I gave her a look back that said, 'Don't pin your hopes on me,' and pulled my sweatshirt off. I dropped it stage right and stepped out to take my place in the formation. Thank God I'm in the back.

James, the director was in the middle of a tirade directed at one of the dancers, "What do you do on beats 6, 7 and 8?"

I felt bad for her. I didn't know what to do on beats 6, 7 and 8 either. Was this really our last dress rehearsal. We should know this stuff.

"Take it from the top!" James barked the order from the dark house.

I locked my eyes on our dance captain hoping I would be able to fake it well enough to avoid James' ire. Isn't that what most performers feel like anyway? Fakers. Impostors of some sort, to some degree. The first strains of music made my heart speed up. Then she moved. The captain. Have I seen these steps before? I missed every single move for two solid 8 counts. James called for us to stop and I was sure his anger would be directed at me this time. I stood, squinting through the spotlights trying to make him out in the back of the house. To my surprise he chose someone else to humiliate. Why was I so relieved? I knew the answer to that without really needing to search for it. I couldn't deny that over the past month I have fallen in love with James. How could that even happen? He was a Nazi when it came to directing.

I wonder why he's not picking on me? I'm obviously the weakest link here. I don't know one step of this miserable dance. Why is he picking on the tall blond? She's amazing. Maybe this is his way of getting the message to me without humiliating me in front of everyone.

The whole rehearsal went similarly. How many rehearsals have I missed? Is this choreography new? Since when do we do the first five 8 counts up on a platform? I can't wait for this to be over.

And of course it soon was over. I left the stage behind me, out of site out of mind, and went home.

"How do we get rid of it?"

I had no answer for mom's question. I watched as the watery substance slid around our kitchen floor. I knew that we couldn't let it come into contact with our skin. If we did the poison would do its work quickly and we would die. But we needed to stop it from spreading even more. I looked into the bucket it came from. It looked like a thicker version of carbonated water. It flowed up and down the sides of the bucket with a mind of it's own. It was doing the same thing on the floor. We had tried to spread it so thin that it couldn't function. But we could see the bubbles all moving toward one point as if it was pulling itself back together.

The thought came to me suddenly, "What if we burn it?"
"Do you think that would work? We don't know how it will react to fire."
"It's worth a shot isn't it?"

I didn't wait for an answer as I grabbed the candle lighter from the nearest kitchen drawer. I clicked the flame to life and slowly, arm fully extended and face turned away, lowered it to the wet trail on the floor. A bright green flame quickly popped into existence and traveled along the substance like it would with some sort of gas or oil. It burned out so fast that I wondered if it had worked. I moved around trying to catch the reflection of the light coming from the window. I could see where it had dried up in some places. It must be working. I went to the other side of the room and lit a wet patch over there. The same green flame burned across the tile, following the same route the poison had. I fervently hoped this was going to get rid of it. But before I could light the next patch the clear liquid thickened. It began to rise off the floor and take shape. I lit it again in a desperate attempt to stop it. This time there was no green flame. It took on real substance. It looked like burning lava. A face formed in the mass and looked itself over.

"Are you burning me?" It rose higher yet and took the shape and color of a man.

Great. It changes shapes.

I watched as his body was formed. His curly brown hair reached to his shoulders and he was taller than average. Did the muscles need to be that big? As his face clouded over with rage it quickly became apparent that an escape was needed. I shouted for mom to run as I shoved the portable dishwasher into his stomach. It wasn't forceful but it was enough to knock him into the living room and to put something between us. Something that he could easily throw at me I realized. I wasted no time following mom out the door. And so we ran like I knew we couldn't in real life. Is this a dream? I shook the question from mind as we sought a safe place to hide. We ducked behind a row of town homes across the street. Panting for breath and wondering if we would be able to escape it forever our eyes raked the neighborhood for the safest path. We heard him roar in outrage behind us which effectively got us moving again. My legs felt like they weighed a ton. It was then that I knew we wouldn't both escape.

I turned to mom, "Go ahead. I'll distract him."
"What?"
"Go. He only saw me. He'll leave you alone if he has what he wants."

I didn't wait for an answer. I dropped to the ground and pretended to be unconscious. I could hear moms footsteps moving away as his drew near. The earth beneath me shook as each of his massive legs pounded it. When he got close enough he leaped...right over me. I risked opening my eyes to see that mom had come back. But I was mistaken. It wasn't mom. The woman was as tall as the man was. Her raven colored hair would have reached to her butt if it hadn't been flowing about her as if a great wind had suddenly swept up. Her robes flowed like water as she reached a white hand out to grasp the mans face. Lifting him off the ground she tossed him easily into the air. He spun and swirled there, turning into a gray blur, as she came near me. Wrapping her arm around my shoulder the earth opened at our feet and we descended into stone. It closed over our heads.

I think I know where I am.

"I don't feel bad," I told her sheepishly.
"You don't look bad!" She still had her arm around me as I surveyed myself. My hair was like hers. Silky and longer than it had ever been in life. Is this Hell? It must be. Why else would I be wearing red lingerie. I've never worn lingerie before and I don't think this is what I would have chosen if I were to pick something out for myself.

Her hands were on my back interrupting that thought.

"You have to go meet your love," her voice enticed as she ripped the red lingerie off. Underneath was white lingerie. It put my mind at ease. Don't they wear white in Heaven? I didn't feel ready for whatever she was pushing me toward but I grabbed the handle of the door that appeared in front of me and opened it.

"Mom?" The word escaped my lips too soon. She wasn't here but I was in her room. My shoulders slumped as I realized the whole thing had been some sort of dream or trick. I was relieved that no one was here to witness my embarrassment. I pulled my robe tighter around me, thankful that I suddenly had it on, and grabbed one of moms hats off the wall. Plopping it on my head I figured I would go back to my own room. I passed through her door into the hall where I could hear a party below. The music and hum of voices did nothing to distract me from reaching my goal. I walked to my room, opened the door, stepped through and turned to rest my forehead on the wall. It was over. Whatever I thought was happening was nothing. Here I was in my room again. Safe.

"I'm glad to finally meet you." The voice startled me.
"James!" Had she been right? Was I to face the person I loved?

I turned to find him, but instead of finding James I saw a tall man with curly hair down to his shoulders. It was him. He found me. Was he the one who she meant for me to meet? Why would she save me from him and then make me face him alone? This really was Hell wasn't it? That's why there is blood running down his face.

"No!" My shout was the last sound I heard.

Dream out....

What the heck did I eat before bed? That's what I'd like to know.

Epiphanys on demand

2008-10-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

I went for a walk the other day to take pictures of the fall colors. I thought it would be a wonderful time to relax and reflect on life and the changes that are happening and what I am learning about God and myself. I was ready for God to reveal something marvelous to me or to have this profound revelation that would be life changing. I started out walking and praying and just opened myself up to God. But there was no profound self-realization. I wondered if there was something wrong with me. But I had such a wonderful time meandering around the neighborhood that I ended up feeling quite refreshed. Maybe God gave me what I needed even if it wasn't exactly what I thought I wanted. As I headed home I came to the realization that just because I decided to stop my busy life for an hour it didn't mean that God was working on the same schedule. Anyway here is a sampling of the photos I took.

Camping

2008-10-05T15:19:00.000-07:00

This summer I went camping with dad and Cindy. There were two other families that went. We parked our campers at the back of the park. We had three really big lots all in a row.

Their friends were all really nice people and the kids were well behaved. I really appreciated that a lot. Kids can be such a joy, but badly behaved children make me want to choke someone. Primarily the badly behaved child (or their parents really). But these kids were polite and were able to play with each other without bothering anyone.

We ate really well. We cooked steak on the grill which was at ground level. This was exciting as there were two dogs among the party. But like the children, the dogs were really good. I've been camping two or three times previously and we didn't eat nearly so well. There were delicious potatoes mixed with onion and zucchini, pasta salad, steak, lettuce salad, red velvet cake and a good Gewurztraminer.

We took a walk around the park looking at all the lots and enjoying the evening. There is something I really like about campers. They are so friendly. We ran into so many people who were willing to just stop and talk for 10 minutes even though they were total strangers. We met some friendly dogs as well which made Eddie really happy. There was only one dog that was less than friendly. I did see something that I thought was sort of amusing. The speed limit was 7 1/2 miles per hour max! Who thinks to themselves 'I think 7 1/2 will be good.' Why not make it seven?

Once evening fell dad and the other guys built a really lovely fire. We sat around telling stories and making s'mores. I don't think camping would be the same if not for good old fashioned s'mores! I went to bed kind of early because I was tired and Eddie couldn't decide if he wanted to sleep with me or with dad and Cindy. I know he sleeps with them at home but it's alwasy nice to have choices. So he spent the night going back and forth between our beds. He's a sweet dog and thank God he's as small as he is or it would not have been as fun to have a dog on the bed! I hope they don't sell their camper. It's so much fun to go away for a weekend.

Glasses

2008-09-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

Well...I went to the eye doctor today because my Astigmatism (caused by some sort of Papilloma, or excessive tissue growth) has gotten out of hand. My right eye, as I thought it would be, is absolutely perfect so there will be no prescription in that lens. But my left eye is, well, atrocious. Dr. Monroe said that my two eyes are completely disassociated. That means they aren't working together at all. He said that most likely my right eye does all the work and my left eye just sort of floats there. I have no depth perception either.

Goodie.

So now I will have glasses. I hate that. But it is what it is. I can't find a picture of the exact ones but this picture is close. They are Dolce & Gabbana. They are a little bold for my taste so I feel anxious about them. I'm not usually bold with my wardrobe. Oh well. First time for everything!

I should have cited...

2008-09-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

The last entry was more excerpts from E.M. Forsters' Howards End. I'm enjoying it immensely but I do need to remember that it was written in 1910. Well, published in 1910 anyway. Most of the older literature I read is written by women, but for a smattering of Dickens, Tolkien, Dumas and Lewis. Not horribly original of me, but there you have it...

And interseting (antiquated) notions about men and women...

2008-09-24T17:23:00.001-07:00

"He would have resented this had she not been a woman. But women may say anything - it was one of his holiest beliefs - and he only retorted, with a gay smile..."

"It was a business-like letter, and stated frankly what he would do for them, and what he would not do. Also the rent. If they approved, Margaret was to come up at once - the words were underlined, as is necessary when dealing with women..."

"She, in his place, would have "ich liebe dich" but perhaps it was not his habit to open the heart. He might have done it if she had pressed him - out of duty, perhaps; England expects every man to open his heart once, but the effort would have jarred him, and never, if she could avoid it, should he loose those defenses that he had chosen to raise against the world. He must never be bothered with emotional talk, or with a display of sympathy. He was an elderly man now, and it would be futile and impudent to correct him."

Need I say more?

Forsters Amazing Imagry

2008-09-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

"She was parting from these Wilcoxes for the second time. Paul and his mother, ripple and great wave, had flowed into her life and ebbed out of it forever. The ripple had left no trace behind: the wave had strewn at her feet fragments torn from the unknown. A curious seeker, she stood for a while at the verge of the sea that tells so little, yet tells a little, and watched the outgoing of this last tremendous tide."

--E. M. Frorster Howards End

Nastalgia? Or somthing else...

2008-09-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

I checked my MySpace account for the first time in ages. Probably 6 months or more. Through other friends I was able to view pictures of people I lost contact with many years ago. It made me sort of sad. Looking at their photos put into sharp relief the differences in our lives. I wonder how people who were so completely inseparable for so long could have gone down such different paths.

I guess I should have known all along. The differences were always there they were just masked behind a youthful innocence that no longer exists in us; well some of us. We grow up in opposite environments and become people who can possibly no longer relate to each other.

I can't decide if I regret that or not...

#116

2008-09-11T18:58:00.000-07:00

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

-- William Shakespeare

Malachi's Visit

2008-09-06T16:50:00.000-07:00

My nephew was here visiting with his grandparents on his dad's side. Mom, grandma Emery and I met with them for dinner last night. We went to Fudruckers and had some burgers...

We looked at pictures of all the fun things on the trip so far...

We had so much fun at dinner...

Afterwards we went to the park to play...

It was a blast but soon we had to go because they needed to catch an early flight to Dallas. Mom and I are hoping to go to Dallas the weekend of Halloween. There is a costume party at Sara and John's church and then we could take Malachi Trick or Treating! I think that would be such a fun time. What wonderful memories we are making with him!

Ren Fest

2008-08-21T16:43:00.000-07:00

Kaity and I went to the Renaissance Festival on Sunday. It was so much fun. It's incredible the way total strangers can put aside the inhibitions society puts on them (or the ones we only think society puts on us but that we really put on ourselves) to come together in the spirit of fun. It's as if there is no such thing as a 'stranger' when you are there. I always enjoy that aspect of the Festival. We saw a few incredibly funny skits and shows and also a very racy one. I laughed...I'll admit it. : )

I brought my camera but of course what happened as soon as I turned it on? The battery died. What else? (I can hear Sara and Kaity saying 'I know, right?' You two make me giggle)

Here are some photos that I found on-line of the Festival...

I wish my camera had been working but these photos are great. You will get an idea of what it was like! I suggest going if you have any spare money just lying around. If you can dig a decade's worth of change out of the sofa...do so immediately!

ABC's

2008-07-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

Here is my nephew singing most the the ABC's. I took this while I was in Dallas in April. Malachi was in a wedding and looked super cute in his tiny little tux.

Hope the video works. If not...oh well. I'm new to this whole 'blog' thing. Here are some other pictures of him in the tux. So cute!

Good Day

2008-07-26T19:48:00.001-07:00

I had a wonderful day today. Kaity and I drove to Staring Lake Park to play Frisbee Golf. She had played before, up in Fargo, but I never had. It wasn't as hard as I anticipated it to be. It was nice to get outside this morning and walk around the park. Then I came home, watched some travel shows on PBS about Bulgaria and Argentina, cleaned the kitchen, worked out and spent some time on the computer.

Oh! And I watched Batman Begins. We went to see The Dark Night last night and it was amazing. I really liked it. It was darker than the first and Heath Ledger was absolutely brilliant. Disturbing but incredible. I think he deserves the posthumous Oscar that everyone is talking about. They left it wide open for a third movie and I sincerely hope they make one!

Book List

2008-07-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

The Big Read is an NEA program designed to encourage community reading initiatives. They've come up with this list of the top 100 books, using criteria they don't explain, and they estimate that the average adult has only read 6 of these. So, we are encouraged to:

1) Look at the list and bold those we have read.
2) Italicize those we intend to read.
3) Underline the books we LOVE
4) Reprint this list in our own blogs

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare -- well, some…
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte's Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery – My goal is to read it in French
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

I'd just like to express my chagrin at the simple fact that some of these books can not be un-italicized. But I've read a few of them so that's encouraging.

Sigh

2008-07-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

I've started a dance workout video. It's sort of fun. It definitely takes energy. But I realized just how much I hate the 'encouraging' (a.k.a. obnoxious) comments the leaders make. 'You can do it!' 'Almost there!' Blah blah blah. Ugh!

I'm in a wedding in January but the bride wants to take pictures of us in our dresses sometime this summer or fall. So I need to loose, loose, loose. Here is the dress that Jenna wants us all to wear.

I've had my eye on this one for a while. I love it. We weren't sure if it would look good on everyone but it really did. It was sort of amazing actually. I'm very excited to get it.

That's all the update I have for now.

Ciao!

Healing...

2008-07-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

Let's see...what have I done so far to take a first step in meeting my goals. Well...I've day dreamed about going to Scotland a lot. So I think that's a good start! Ha!

Some friends of ours have been studying a book called A More Excellent Way by a man named Henry Wright. He believes that there are spiritual reasons for all ailments from cancer to acne. He also believes that a person can not be healed if they are withholding forgiveness. He used to pray for healing for people all the time and maybe 5 out of 100 were healed. Once he started asking people if they were bitter toward anyone and they all said yes things changed. They would forgive and then he would pray. He said people were healed left and right. So we are going to see if there is some sort of work book to do with a group of people. There is a woman in our church who has Fibromyalgia and she started seeing a counselor who uses Wright's material and she had no pain after her first appointment!

OK! I just looked on-line and there IS a work book! Well this will be great!

The Ultimate 'To Do' List

2008-07-20T10:35:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine decided she was going to make a 'to do' list of things she wanted to accomplish before she's 30. Before we knew it it turned into a group project. There are 3 of us making our own lists now. We each need to come up with goals that we believe are attainable by a certain age. Here are the things I would like to do before I, myself, turn 30:

Travel to Europe (England/Scottland/Ireland or France)
Learn a new language (mom and I agreed on French)
Go back to school (still trying to figure out what to study)
Start saving for retirement

I think there should be more on my list but I can't think of anything. I guess I could put small things on there like:

See Mt. Rushmore
Cry tears of joy
Go Scuba diving
Meet one famous person

That kind of stuff. Well it's a work in progress.

New Blog

2008-07-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

We'll I've decided to start a new blog seeing as how I can't remember how to get into my other one. If I were much of a hacker this wouldn't be a problem. And I have a unique advantage in that I would be trying to hack into my own account. I know all of my user ID's and the possible passwords. But I'm lazy. It's much easier to just start over.

I'm calling it Bittersweet Sundays because that's what Sundays are to me. I love them because they are part of the weekend but they are tainted by the knowledge that they are my last hours before I go back to work. You see...Bittersweet.