So I've been home for a couple of weeks now, and as usual, don't maintain this blog once I get comfortable in my wonderful cozy home. Plus, I don't have internet or tv at my house, so really my already minuscule technology skills go down the tube.
This is a note to self- when air outside is cold, it is rainy and you feel like warm delicious food will make you feel wonderful, this is actually a lie. Do not eat the dining hall enchiladas just because they look warm and yummy, they are not. Stick with the cucumbers and rice, as usual, when dining with visitors on campus. Your face doesn't hide your disdain, and your acting skills are sub par, remember this or face the consequences of yet again eating unsatisfying food.
Since being home it has been a whirlwind of chaos. So busy, every day, every hour. I feel like I've been running a marathon for the last three months and I'm ready to tag someone else in. Let's pass the baton off before I chuck it at someones head. I can't complain too much though, the hustle and bustle of home has been refreshing and are usually fun activities. I did get to dress up for Halloween, as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Even as a grown adult, I still enjoy dressing up in costumes. My goal for next year is to get a group of us to do a group themed costume. Like the cast of The Office, or Glee, or as Natalie suggested, Clue. How fun!
We have also decided to instill a new event into our monthly calendars. The Potluck Game Night. This night will be consisting of games and a potluck. Whoa. Novel. :o) So last game night, I hosted at my place and prepared the main course, which was soup. I made both from scratch, Coconut Curry Butternut Squash and African Spicy Peanut Soup, I was very please with the flavor of both and from the no left overs I assume everyone else also was pleased.
I've also had 75th Birthday parties, more school visits, football games, wedding receptions, dinner dates with friends, and to come in this next week are- salon anniversary parties, Girls night, our campus preview weekend and a trip to Idaho for three days, a Birthday party/Going away party in Sunriver and the following week is another Birthday outing and Thanksgiving. Love the Holidays!
I don't who reads this, which really sometimes I wish I could stalk and see, because I'm like that but if any of you are young women and want to join a Bible Study, some friends and I are starting a new Beth Moore series the first week of December. We've decided to actually keep one consistently going on once a week, just rotating through different books of interest. The first of which will be Loving Well by BM. Just let me know, we'd love to have you.
One of the weird thoughts that crossed my mind today, really randomly, was hell. I think it was because I saw something on facebook about someone who passed away who to my knowledge did not have a relationship with Christ and it just really registered what that meant for them. Now, I truly hope that I am wrong for this person because if not then they are in hell. It's like I know I believe there is a heaven and a hell, and I know I believe an individual goes to one or the other. I also know I believe there is only one way to Heaven, and that is through the blood of Jesus Christ. But then, I forget. I forget about hell. To be specific, I forget that people I know go to hell or will go hell. People I know. Now that hits home. The Great Commission takes on a whole new meaning when I think about the alternative as literally being hell. Now, I've never been there.... I've had some conversations that I thought came close, but I've got to assume its pretty wretched. An eternal hellish conversation in a pit of fire. Or eternally listening to aweful music, in a pit of fire. You can pretty much add anything as long as it ends with "in a pit of fire." Eating fried chicken and biscuits stuffed with honey butter forever, in a pit of fire. That last one may or may not be one of the worst days of my life, turns out I have a sensitive stomach that doesn't like bread, butter or anything fried....
Anyway, I was just thinking about that and wanted to write it down. Probably more as a reminder to myself then anything. Really we should all be walking around with this in the back of our minds. How we act and live our life should reflect Christ, how we treat and love others, ultimately should reflect Christ, and the words we choose to leave others, should be reflecting Christ. I don't think I'm called to be a missionary, but I do have a mission, just as we all do; and personally, I would like to know that the people I know are not in hell but rejoicing in Heaven. I have always said that my first day in Heaven, I don't want a tour and I don't want to be adorned with crowns, I want to sit down and have a coffee with Christ and those I love who got there before me. I'm hoping that when I look at that table filled with coffee cups and faces, I don't look around and wonder why someone isn't there.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Oct. 21st
Tomorrow, I come home.
This deserves a line of its own.
I have officially caught a cold. Started coming on Tuesday, hit harder last night, and today I woke up with a full fledged cold, the kind that even hurts your teeth because its messed with the sinus'. Hopefully I can get rid of this thing by the time I come home tomororw because this weekend is jam packed busy. And last time I flew back into the Portland airport with a cold from Boise I had an intense pain and water squirt out of my eyeball. Gross right. I asked around a bit after that happened and no one else had ever said they'd heard of something like that, it was the oddest thing. Facinating though.
The youth group visit went really well last night. I wish I would've had more energy then I had, but you work with what you've got and give it your best go, all we can really do I suppose. I love Idaho....they are awesome. That is a broad statement to liking all of what Idaho has to offer, but its almost completely true. Tonight I have the National Christian College Fair to attend, lets pray I don't lose my voice as its been wavering all day on the brink of leaving me.
Sometimes, as a white, middle class, woman in her 20's I feel as though I have no voice. I was just watching a commercial, addressing financial issues for a specific race, I've never seen it issued to a specific demographic known as the student who wants to go to college, regardless of race. Student doesn't specify race, it specifies future. It may be very possible that because I am white, or because I grew up in a home with two parents working to support their family, or because I decided to take out loans on my own accord to attend college and get myself an education and now have debt to pay off without government support, perhaps because I worked hard in high school to get good grades and made a decision to do choir, volleyball, have a job in high school, leadership, year book; perhaps these past experiences have blinded me to prejudices. But then again, maybe I have no voice and therefore have no right to know what a prejudice is. You know when I applied for scholarships to college in high school I fell in the middle gap, I didn't have a 4.0 standing but I also had no specific racial background, my parents weren't on welfare but if we didn't work we would've been, so there wasn't all that much I could be given. This might be a bit of a vent, and crossing so many political correct stipulations, but I have a voice.
I fully believe in helping the poor, giving money and resources to the less fortunate (regardless of the race the individual may be), I think it's awesome that tribes give Indian students money, or some countries will provide students with money for an education if they work hard enough. I dislike the separation of the classes, and don't see more worth in someone who produces a vast income then a person who makes just enough money to get by. But then I don't really undersand why myself and others in my position don't always receive the help they need- I work hard and I make very little, I do what I am able to do for those who have less and I admit I could most assuredly do a lot more, I pay for health insurance and car insurance, I try to keep myself healthy so hopefully I don't have to pay an arm and a leg for using this said health insurance. And the worst part is I know that I am not even close to the worse off, not even a little bit close. The middle class in general are so overlooked in society because the rich make money off the poor, and at the very least when they take an economic hit they have money to fall back on and perhaps might cut out some extra luxuries. The poor, well they have it rough, but they at least get some government help, free health care, food stamps, grants and resources to help life. For those working hard I say give them everything we've got to give, help the poor who truly are working to make a better life for themselves, help them get to this middle class level and security. However...the middle class is a quickly changing demographic as the economy goes downhill, health care goes up, insurance goes up, it is continually splitting into opposite ends of the spectrum. To the poor for the majority, and some maybe getting a lucky break, to the rich.
I don't really know where i'm going with this and had no specific point to make. Sorry for the ranting. But not sorry I have a voice. I think i need a nap, my head hurts even more than before. But the fair tonight, one school tomorrow and home I come. :o)
This deserves a line of its own.
I have officially caught a cold. Started coming on Tuesday, hit harder last night, and today I woke up with a full fledged cold, the kind that even hurts your teeth because its messed with the sinus'. Hopefully I can get rid of this thing by the time I come home tomororw because this weekend is jam packed busy. And last time I flew back into the Portland airport with a cold from Boise I had an intense pain and water squirt out of my eyeball. Gross right. I asked around a bit after that happened and no one else had ever said they'd heard of something like that, it was the oddest thing. Facinating though.
The youth group visit went really well last night. I wish I would've had more energy then I had, but you work with what you've got and give it your best go, all we can really do I suppose. I love Idaho....they are awesome. That is a broad statement to liking all of what Idaho has to offer, but its almost completely true. Tonight I have the National Christian College Fair to attend, lets pray I don't lose my voice as its been wavering all day on the brink of leaving me.
Sometimes, as a white, middle class, woman in her 20's I feel as though I have no voice. I was just watching a commercial, addressing financial issues for a specific race, I've never seen it issued to a specific demographic known as the student who wants to go to college, regardless of race. Student doesn't specify race, it specifies future. It may be very possible that because I am white, or because I grew up in a home with two parents working to support their family, or because I decided to take out loans on my own accord to attend college and get myself an education and now have debt to pay off without government support, perhaps because I worked hard in high school to get good grades and made a decision to do choir, volleyball, have a job in high school, leadership, year book; perhaps these past experiences have blinded me to prejudices. But then again, maybe I have no voice and therefore have no right to know what a prejudice is. You know when I applied for scholarships to college in high school I fell in the middle gap, I didn't have a 4.0 standing but I also had no specific racial background, my parents weren't on welfare but if we didn't work we would've been, so there wasn't all that much I could be given. This might be a bit of a vent, and crossing so many political correct stipulations, but I have a voice.
I fully believe in helping the poor, giving money and resources to the less fortunate (regardless of the race the individual may be), I think it's awesome that tribes give Indian students money, or some countries will provide students with money for an education if they work hard enough. I dislike the separation of the classes, and don't see more worth in someone who produces a vast income then a person who makes just enough money to get by. But then I don't really undersand why myself and others in my position don't always receive the help they need- I work hard and I make very little, I do what I am able to do for those who have less and I admit I could most assuredly do a lot more, I pay for health insurance and car insurance, I try to keep myself healthy so hopefully I don't have to pay an arm and a leg for using this said health insurance. And the worst part is I know that I am not even close to the worse off, not even a little bit close. The middle class in general are so overlooked in society because the rich make money off the poor, and at the very least when they take an economic hit they have money to fall back on and perhaps might cut out some extra luxuries. The poor, well they have it rough, but they at least get some government help, free health care, food stamps, grants and resources to help life. For those working hard I say give them everything we've got to give, help the poor who truly are working to make a better life for themselves, help them get to this middle class level and security. However...the middle class is a quickly changing demographic as the economy goes downhill, health care goes up, insurance goes up, it is continually splitting into opposite ends of the spectrum. To the poor for the majority, and some maybe getting a lucky break, to the rich.
I don't really know where i'm going with this and had no specific point to make. Sorry for the ranting. But not sorry I have a voice. I think i need a nap, my head hurts even more than before. But the fair tonight, one school tomorrow and home I come. :o)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
October 19th...I'm 95% positive
Today was a great day with an early start. Had to be in Ontatio by 8:30am, so need to leave Boise by 7:20 or so. It's oddly unsettling leaving when the sun hasn't come up yet, I had to check the clock like three times just in case I woke up, showered and got ready when it was really only 3am. But in fact, was the correct time. It's unsettling at first that is, but then it is kind of nice to watch the sunrise and get the day going early. I guess I do enjoy morning, however, I still refuse to claim the term early bird.
After my visits today I got lettuce wraps to go from PF Changs, I would've stayed but I didn't have any quarters and only had 15 minutes left on my meter.
I think Kramer came out with the first skinny jeans in an episode of Seinfield. I assume the current generation also has as hard of a time getting out of a pair of painted on pants, I have not succumbed to a pair of skinny jeans yet, well I do have skinny black pants so I guess I'm half way there.
After eating my delicious lettuce wraps I went for a walk along the green belt next to the river. It's beautiful outside, just the perfect temperature with a slight breeze. Anyway, I walked along and the this thought kept going through my mind "Lord, what will you have me do?" This question is on mind everyday, but it really creeps into the forefront of my thoughts when I take the time to quiet myself and my surroundings. And I sit here and wonder this, "Lord, what will you have me do?" I am ready, I am willing and I am able, but Lord, what will you have me do?
I took a little while to walk down some rocks and sit and watch the river. Were there spider webs everywhere and did I get momentarily distracted with having to look in fallen tree limps and cut of trunks....I can't lie to you, why yes I did. But after that brief distraction I stood by the waters edge and watched it, and something came to mind. Water is mesmorizing, it calms an active mind, and its absolutely beautiful. More beautiful than an attractive man with facial hair, and you all know how beautiful I find them. Okay, perhaps, its just a different kind of beauty, on a whole other level. I realized what makes it so beautiful though, crazy that I've literally never realized what it was that makes it on this whole new level of beauty. It's the reflection. Bodies of water take the battered, broken fragmented life surrounding it and reflect it back to the world as this pure, peaceful and whole image. It is the reflection of the world around it that make is so beautiful.
Not to get to deep here, but it did make me wonder what I reflect to the world. I can only pray that I reflect the love of Christ, and as a broken, fragmented and ruptured individual the beauty of Christ shines through me to the world as a complete and peaceful image. Completed by the Father, and not of my own accord. The river can not be beautiful on its own, it needs the world around it to be broken, and it needs the ability to restore that beaten picture.
I would say it was a great walk, even though I did get blisters on the back of my heels.
Glee tonight. Perhaps its not healthy for one show to make someone so excited. When I come home I won't have tv or internet anymore, what is a girl going to do. I'm going to have to start dating someone with tv just so I can watch it, the relationship secondary to the access to cable. Just kidding, mostly.
After my visits today I got lettuce wraps to go from PF Changs, I would've stayed but I didn't have any quarters and only had 15 minutes left on my meter.
I think Kramer came out with the first skinny jeans in an episode of Seinfield. I assume the current generation also has as hard of a time getting out of a pair of painted on pants, I have not succumbed to a pair of skinny jeans yet, well I do have skinny black pants so I guess I'm half way there.
After eating my delicious lettuce wraps I went for a walk along the green belt next to the river. It's beautiful outside, just the perfect temperature with a slight breeze. Anyway, I walked along and the this thought kept going through my mind "Lord, what will you have me do?" This question is on mind everyday, but it really creeps into the forefront of my thoughts when I take the time to quiet myself and my surroundings. And I sit here and wonder this, "Lord, what will you have me do?" I am ready, I am willing and I am able, but Lord, what will you have me do?
I took a little while to walk down some rocks and sit and watch the river. Were there spider webs everywhere and did I get momentarily distracted with having to look in fallen tree limps and cut of trunks....I can't lie to you, why yes I did. But after that brief distraction I stood by the waters edge and watched it, and something came to mind. Water is mesmorizing, it calms an active mind, and its absolutely beautiful. More beautiful than an attractive man with facial hair, and you all know how beautiful I find them. Okay, perhaps, its just a different kind of beauty, on a whole other level. I realized what makes it so beautiful though, crazy that I've literally never realized what it was that makes it on this whole new level of beauty. It's the reflection. Bodies of water take the battered, broken fragmented life surrounding it and reflect it back to the world as this pure, peaceful and whole image. It is the reflection of the world around it that make is so beautiful.
Not to get to deep here, but it did make me wonder what I reflect to the world. I can only pray that I reflect the love of Christ, and as a broken, fragmented and ruptured individual the beauty of Christ shines through me to the world as a complete and peaceful image. Completed by the Father, and not of my own accord. The river can not be beautiful on its own, it needs the world around it to be broken, and it needs the ability to restore that beaten picture.
I would say it was a great walk, even though I did get blisters on the back of my heels.
Glee tonight. Perhaps its not healthy for one show to make someone so excited. When I come home I won't have tv or internet anymore, what is a girl going to do. I'm going to have to start dating someone with tv just so I can watch it, the relationship secondary to the access to cable. Just kidding, mostly.
Monday, October 18, 2010
OMG. And Not in the Fun Usher Way
At this very moment I am so bored that I can literally hear myself losing my intelligence and gaining weight all at the same time. Apparently being home for almost a week showed me once again what normal life is like and now I don't know how to handle modern boredom. One can only stalk and search facebook for so long, and really the majority of the news fall into three categories- engaged, just got married, having/had baby. All of which I'm so glad to stalk, but it doesn't exactly help with the restlessness I currently feel, it actually exacerbates it and points out the singleness I find myself in, both in Idaho and in Salem.
The people above me are stomping grapes. The least they could do is bring me down some wine to take the edge off of their intrusive stomping.
I sound like I'm in a terrible mood, I actually am not at all. Just incredibly restless. I'm tired of watching TV, reading, killing time online....but find myself with not many other choices. I'd go walk the river, but being a young single woman Murder She Wrote, Matlock, CSI and other such shows have taught me this is a very bad choice. I'd go into downtown Boise but stores are closed and bars are open, not really my forte. Let me ponder what else....still haven't found the exercise room, but then again I haven't taken too much time to explore as it takes double the time to walk the hall what with the smell I have to forge through, that thick. So I sit here with The Closer on and write yet again another blog posting. Never really seen this show, its not too shabby.
The rest of this week should be pretty busy. Youth group Wednesday (third year visiting it), College fair Thursday and fly home Friday. Woohoo! I think tomorrow I'll take the time to go into town and walk around the shops and eat at PF Changs, get me some lettuce wraps. And then of course I reserve the hour of Glee whenever possible, and thankfully this week nothing was needing to be scheduled. It is like the one thing I look forward to when I'm on the road. However, it is a minute joy for the week, the real joy comes Friday when I get to come home, celebrate Birthdays with the family and get to go to church Sunday. That totally reminded me of the song "but the real joy comes in the morning." So I sit here completely and utterly bored out of my mind, and completely and utterly so thankful for the life that I live. Bless beyond belief. A thankfulness for family and friends that words cannot fathom, they can't even attempt to articulate the meaning behind those feelings.
I, with my all my heart, despise Old Navy commercials.
The people above me are stomping grapes. The least they could do is bring me down some wine to take the edge off of their intrusive stomping.
I sound like I'm in a terrible mood, I actually am not at all. Just incredibly restless. I'm tired of watching TV, reading, killing time online....but find myself with not many other choices. I'd go walk the river, but being a young single woman Murder She Wrote, Matlock, CSI and other such shows have taught me this is a very bad choice. I'd go into downtown Boise but stores are closed and bars are open, not really my forte. Let me ponder what else....still haven't found the exercise room, but then again I haven't taken too much time to explore as it takes double the time to walk the hall what with the smell I have to forge through, that thick. So I sit here with The Closer on and write yet again another blog posting. Never really seen this show, its not too shabby.
The rest of this week should be pretty busy. Youth group Wednesday (third year visiting it), College fair Thursday and fly home Friday. Woohoo! I think tomorrow I'll take the time to go into town and walk around the shops and eat at PF Changs, get me some lettuce wraps. And then of course I reserve the hour of Glee whenever possible, and thankfully this week nothing was needing to be scheduled. It is like the one thing I look forward to when I'm on the road. However, it is a minute joy for the week, the real joy comes Friday when I get to come home, celebrate Birthdays with the family and get to go to church Sunday. That totally reminded me of the song "but the real joy comes in the morning." So I sit here completely and utterly bored out of my mind, and completely and utterly so thankful for the life that I live. Bless beyond belief. A thankfulness for family and friends that words cannot fathom, they can't even attempt to articulate the meaning behind those feelings.
I, with my all my heart, despise Old Navy commercials.
Boise.Meridian.Eagle.Nampa.Caldwell.Ontario.Garden City.
This entire week is based out of Boise, ID. One of my all time favorite cities in the US. I get a lot of funny looks when I say that, but come over here and check it out and you'll see what I mean. It's sunny but chilly- the perfect fall mix, surrounded by mountains and rivers, downtown is full of boutiques, coffee shops, eccletic food and there aren't all that many people that live here- hear not that much traffic and friendly faces.
After three back to back visits today I went to Target to buy some gifts for the counselors I visit, I made the cutest little striped paper chocolate gift baggies with cupcake stickers to hold the folds down. Trust me, adorable. I felt very Martha Stewartish. Scratch that, I feel very Martha Stewartish.
So I may have finally settled on a new church home. I'm still not one hundred percent positive, but I really enjoyed this last week's sermon. I still want to try Court Street Christian, because I've heard so many wonderful things but I do like Salem Alliance. I came back this past weekend after trying it awhile ago, kind of made my circle through the Salem churches and back here I settled. I felt it a good omen when they showed a slide on the big screen for a "newcomers" night, because I so badly want to be plugged and rooted in a church for the long hall. I crave that in fact. In a women's group, in a 20's/30's group and working in the nursery. These are the things I'm looking for at this particular time in my life. Well, looking for in a church that is.There are a few other things I could think of that I'm also seeking, or waiting for is maybe a better verb.
I wish I would've brought headphones and my iPod to Idaho because my hotel is perched right next to the river. I plan on walking it to get some fresh air, a little exercise (because finding the work out room here at the hotel is like finding a needle in a nicotine ridden haystack) and it is just nice to walk and contemplate life while out in nature. Gosh, if I could also do another activity today I would love to do some painting right now. I've got a jonesin' for some crafts and arts time.
Watching NCIS while I type this. Direct quote from the show "blog...whats a blog?" "You know, a blog. Something losers write online to let everyone know what they're thinking."
Great. I just got put down by a TV show. Not even a main character on the show, a one time visitor with all of two lines.
You know the satisfactory feeling of cleaning. Perhaps, I stand in a minority group here, the group that loves to clean, loves having things clean, and loves coming home to clean things. However, before i left this Sunday I took the time to clean, and then clean some more. My room is vacuumed, bed is made, clothes are washed and in full color coordination, downstairs bathroom has been scrubbed from top to bottom, kitchen dishes are done, floors are swept and mopped, garbages are emptied...ahh....its even cathartic to discuss it.
Have you ever thought about what character you would like to play in a movie or book? Growing up of course I had a fondness for Jo from Little Women- because she was bold, did what was right, helped the poor, talked funny when reciting plays. Belle from Beauty and the Beast was probably even more, cartoon character or not she is cool- spent a lot of time in libraries and magical castles, wore blue, had imperfect hair with a strang always falling in her face, ended up with a big dude with sweet facial hair and got to talk to inanimate objects all the time. Awesome life. Or Nancy Drew-solving mysteries with George and Bess, being pursued by Ned Nickerson- all American football stud muffin...So apparently my childhood dreams consisted of big hairy men, bold/intelligent/Daddy's girl women, castles and well structured dresses. You know, I think I'm still okay with that come to think of it.
Sometimes when I drive I pretend to be a race car driver, not to the extent of making obnoxious engine noises but to the extent of in my head making wild turns and over exaggerating my arms when I turn. This of course, only when I'm alone.
I think I'm still recovering from this last flight. I didn't end up getting to check into my hotel until arond 11pm, and not to bed until around 1am just because I hadn't had dinner (which consisted of fruit snacks, regular sunchips and a cookie- all of which sold behind the front counter of the hotel), wanted to unpack a few items, lay my clothes out flat before major crease-age took place....these things take time. And then woke up early for my first school visit. Gosh, best flight ever though, no one sat next to me so I sprawled out in as much of a lady like manner as I could and read the entire time. It was so quick that landing actually scared me, I was not anticipating it.
Let the walking begin.
After three back to back visits today I went to Target to buy some gifts for the counselors I visit, I made the cutest little striped paper chocolate gift baggies with cupcake stickers to hold the folds down. Trust me, adorable. I felt very Martha Stewartish. Scratch that, I feel very Martha Stewartish.
So I may have finally settled on a new church home. I'm still not one hundred percent positive, but I really enjoyed this last week's sermon. I still want to try Court Street Christian, because I've heard so many wonderful things but I do like Salem Alliance. I came back this past weekend after trying it awhile ago, kind of made my circle through the Salem churches and back here I settled. I felt it a good omen when they showed a slide on the big screen for a "newcomers" night, because I so badly want to be plugged and rooted in a church for the long hall. I crave that in fact. In a women's group, in a 20's/30's group and working in the nursery. These are the things I'm looking for at this particular time in my life. Well, looking for in a church that is.There are a few other things I could think of that I'm also seeking, or waiting for is maybe a better verb.
I wish I would've brought headphones and my iPod to Idaho because my hotel is perched right next to the river. I plan on walking it to get some fresh air, a little exercise (because finding the work out room here at the hotel is like finding a needle in a nicotine ridden haystack) and it is just nice to walk and contemplate life while out in nature. Gosh, if I could also do another activity today I would love to do some painting right now. I've got a jonesin' for some crafts and arts time.
Watching NCIS while I type this. Direct quote from the show "blog...whats a blog?" "You know, a blog. Something losers write online to let everyone know what they're thinking."
Great. I just got put down by a TV show. Not even a main character on the show, a one time visitor with all of two lines.
You know the satisfactory feeling of cleaning. Perhaps, I stand in a minority group here, the group that loves to clean, loves having things clean, and loves coming home to clean things. However, before i left this Sunday I took the time to clean, and then clean some more. My room is vacuumed, bed is made, clothes are washed and in full color coordination, downstairs bathroom has been scrubbed from top to bottom, kitchen dishes are done, floors are swept and mopped, garbages are emptied...ahh....its even cathartic to discuss it.
Have you ever thought about what character you would like to play in a movie or book? Growing up of course I had a fondness for Jo from Little Women- because she was bold, did what was right, helped the poor, talked funny when reciting plays. Belle from Beauty and the Beast was probably even more, cartoon character or not she is cool- spent a lot of time in libraries and magical castles, wore blue, had imperfect hair with a strang always falling in her face, ended up with a big dude with sweet facial hair and got to talk to inanimate objects all the time. Awesome life. Or Nancy Drew-solving mysteries with George and Bess, being pursued by Ned Nickerson- all American football stud muffin...So apparently my childhood dreams consisted of big hairy men, bold/intelligent/Daddy's girl women, castles and well structured dresses. You know, I think I'm still okay with that come to think of it.
Sometimes when I drive I pretend to be a race car driver, not to the extent of making obnoxious engine noises but to the extent of in my head making wild turns and over exaggerating my arms when I turn. This of course, only when I'm alone.
I think I'm still recovering from this last flight. I didn't end up getting to check into my hotel until arond 11pm, and not to bed until around 1am just because I hadn't had dinner (which consisted of fruit snacks, regular sunchips and a cookie- all of which sold behind the front counter of the hotel), wanted to unpack a few items, lay my clothes out flat before major crease-age took place....these things take time. And then woke up early for my first school visit. Gosh, best flight ever though, no one sat next to me so I sprawled out in as much of a lady like manner as I could and read the entire time. It was so quick that landing actually scared me, I was not anticipating it.
Let the walking begin.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Salem, OR
So I finished off last week in Bend, sorry I didn't update very often while there...and have been home since Friday. Don't think I'm getting all comfy and settled back into normal life though, I leave again on Sunday for my final trip of the year....and it's only for six days. Woohoo! And then I'll get comfy and settled back into Salem life, and I am so excited. Like a kid in a candy shop, except I'm an adult in a yellow peacoat, sipping a warm sugarfree cinnamon dolce latte, in the comfort of my home town.
Back in the office I feel like I've had a million things to catch up on. First, I had a bunch of voicemails to listen to, they are really hard to get to work on the road- I have never wanted to believe it but I am realizing I'm a bit technology challenged. I have stacks of mail at my house, mostly sorted through as of now. Phone calls to make to accepted students. Receipts to organize, title and turn in. Tons of receipts, if there was a word to make it even more plural past the added "s," I would use it. Cards to sort, label and turn in. People to catch up with. Peacoats to be worn. Local school visits. Corvallis college fairs. Laundry, heaps of laundry. This has been my week so far. It has been wonderful too, I am loving every minute being in this town, no matter what I'm doing. Crisp fall mornings, they make everything better in the world.
I went to my old high school today and it was amazing to see so many teachers and get a chance to talk to some of them. I've been back there a few times, in fact I even went for this job last year, but this visit for whatever reason was when tons of teachers were available and out and about. I ran into so many of the amazing teachers there, reminds me how I want to get into a school someday and make a difference how they do for so many students. Plus, its a beautiful building, I just love it there.
I should probably get going and get some more office work done. Next week comes more stories from the road, and I'll be sure to update more often than Bend. Heather...that is specifically for you. :o)
Back in the office I feel like I've had a million things to catch up on. First, I had a bunch of voicemails to listen to, they are really hard to get to work on the road- I have never wanted to believe it but I am realizing I'm a bit technology challenged. I have stacks of mail at my house, mostly sorted through as of now. Phone calls to make to accepted students. Receipts to organize, title and turn in. Tons of receipts, if there was a word to make it even more plural past the added "s," I would use it. Cards to sort, label and turn in. People to catch up with. Peacoats to be worn. Local school visits. Corvallis college fairs. Laundry, heaps of laundry. This has been my week so far. It has been wonderful too, I am loving every minute being in this town, no matter what I'm doing. Crisp fall mornings, they make everything better in the world.
I went to my old high school today and it was amazing to see so many teachers and get a chance to talk to some of them. I've been back there a few times, in fact I even went for this job last year, but this visit for whatever reason was when tons of teachers were available and out and about. I ran into so many of the amazing teachers there, reminds me how I want to get into a school someday and make a difference how they do for so many students. Plus, its a beautiful building, I just love it there.
I should probably get going and get some more office work done. Next week comes more stories from the road, and I'll be sure to update more often than Bend. Heather...that is specifically for you. :o)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Oct. 5th
Have I ever confessed that one of my favorite things about school visits is the visitor sticker I so proudly get to wear. I even get a little disappointed when they don't make me wear one, my favorite are the ones that actually state what school it is. It's amazing how wonderful life can be when simple things bring such joy. Some might choose the word sad, I say joy.
So today I continued my task of finding a grey dress the upcoming wedding. This story both consists of 1-my search of the day and 2-finding a perfect dress online within like 10 minutes back at the hotel. So 1- finding the dress. I went down to the outdoor mall in the Old Mill district today and one of the stores I went into, Mo Mo I think it as called, an asian lady was working....I'm going to guess she owns the place because a little asian baby was sitting on a chair watching a computer screen in the middle of the store. Any who, she asks me if I'm looking for anything in particular and so I tell her "why yes, a grey dress." So she shows me that there are two grey dresses in the store. She holds one up, and goes "I don't think this would fit you. What size are you." I will preface this that the dress she held up was cinched into a 5 inch width and when held up to my body barely covered my torso. The real wild part of the story, however, is that as she asked me what size I am she was sticking her hands into my cardigan and putting her hands around my rib cage What! After, she wanted me to try the dress on, yeah, apparently after groping my ribs she thought I might be able to squeeze into the skanky little dress. I politely declined, as when I walk into a room I'd like my virtue to remain intact. 2- Upon returning back to my hotel room, getting online and hitting up j crew, I found a adorable grey dress on sale for under $100. Done and done.
I have had this odd feeling of wanting to nest and decorate. Today I bought a set of nicer towels for the downstairs bathroom. I also bought an adorable candle holder from World Market, a glass capped pitcher for my favorite homemade salad dressing (dressing courtesy of the Miller cousins) and a spatula because we only have one.....now two.You know what this means- I can mix with both hands at the same time.
I really want a throw pillow.
I feel like I've produced a double chin over the course of this travel season. Can't wait to get back to the courthouse gym and start working out consistently again. This d.c. will be gone like the wind. Speaking of d.c., I once had a coffee drink named after me at North Salem in their Coffee Shack. That's right folks...basically famous, I had a drink named after me called the Iced D.C. It stood for Donica.Casey, our drink of choice from the before mentioned coffee shop. It was also, at the same time my aunt had moved to Washington D.C., and everyone teased me that they were sure sorry to see my mother move across the country (according to the family we resemble each other quite a bit both in appearance and expressiveness). You be the judge.
Thanks for allowing me this narcissistic story, as I had an asian lady judge me for not purchasing her prostitute outfit. A little self indulgence memory reliving wipes that slate clean.
If I ever accept an award for anything, please do not allow me to do a twirl on stage.
I've decided I want to get my gun handlers license. Or permit. I suppose in order to do this I should learn some proper terminology, but with that said, I want to know how to handle a gun. To have confidence in myself to respect and use a gun correctly, because truth be told I assume at this point in life I would either have it easily taken away from me, shoot my own foot in nervousness or point a gun at a bad person and never realize it's on safety the entire time. We all know its true, I can't deny it.
So today I continued my task of finding a grey dress the upcoming wedding. This story both consists of 1-my search of the day and 2-finding a perfect dress online within like 10 minutes back at the hotel. So 1- finding the dress. I went down to the outdoor mall in the Old Mill district today and one of the stores I went into, Mo Mo I think it as called, an asian lady was working....I'm going to guess she owns the place because a little asian baby was sitting on a chair watching a computer screen in the middle of the store. Any who, she asks me if I'm looking for anything in particular and so I tell her "why yes, a grey dress." So she shows me that there are two grey dresses in the store. She holds one up, and goes "I don't think this would fit you. What size are you." I will preface this that the dress she held up was cinched into a 5 inch width and when held up to my body barely covered my torso. The real wild part of the story, however, is that as she asked me what size I am she was sticking her hands into my cardigan and putting her hands around my rib cage What! After, she wanted me to try the dress on, yeah, apparently after groping my ribs she thought I might be able to squeeze into the skanky little dress. I politely declined, as when I walk into a room I'd like my virtue to remain intact. 2- Upon returning back to my hotel room, getting online and hitting up j crew, I found a adorable grey dress on sale for under $100. Done and done.
I have had this odd feeling of wanting to nest and decorate. Today I bought a set of nicer towels for the downstairs bathroom. I also bought an adorable candle holder from World Market, a glass capped pitcher for my favorite homemade salad dressing (dressing courtesy of the Miller cousins) and a spatula because we only have one.....now two.You know what this means- I can mix with both hands at the same time.
I really want a throw pillow.
I feel like I've produced a double chin over the course of this travel season. Can't wait to get back to the courthouse gym and start working out consistently again. This d.c. will be gone like the wind. Speaking of d.c., I once had a coffee drink named after me at North Salem in their Coffee Shack. That's right folks...basically famous, I had a drink named after me called the Iced D.C. It stood for Donica.Casey, our drink of choice from the before mentioned coffee shop. It was also, at the same time my aunt had moved to Washington D.C., and everyone teased me that they were sure sorry to see my mother move across the country (according to the family we resemble each other quite a bit both in appearance and expressiveness). You be the judge.
If I ever accept an award for anything, please do not allow me to do a twirl on stage.
I've decided I want to get my gun handlers license. Or permit. I suppose in order to do this I should learn some proper terminology, but with that said, I want to know how to handle a gun. To have confidence in myself to respect and use a gun correctly, because truth be told I assume at this point in life I would either have it easily taken away from me, shoot my own foot in nervousness or point a gun at a bad person and never realize it's on safety the entire time. We all know its true, I can't deny it.
Monday, October 4, 2010
October...4th
First and foremost, happy birthday to my wonderful little sister today! woohoo, you are officially 12 years old! Enjoy the age, its a good one. :o)
After this week is over I will have only slept in my own bed for one night in the past month....you read that right, one night in a month. Now before you go getting any ideas, those other 29 nights have been in hotel rooms with the company of my mother or my book. This week I find myself in Bend, OR. I started this morning before it was even light outside and drove to Madras. It was beautiful outside, the sun coming up and shining beyond Smith Rock, and later down the road a perfect view of Sisters Mountains and...Five Fingered Jack. Maybe its another number because all hands have five fingers so that confuses me why it would be a distictive feature to a mountain top.
"Looks like tarzan and plays like Jane." Hilarious quote from that new football movie that I'm currently watching and completely unaware of the name of. And thus also displaying how easily distracted I am.
Coming home for a day was rejuvenating. Got to see wonderful friends and family, clean my clothes, and be in familar areas for almost two days. I so look forward to my week home next week. Ohmygoodness, I want to go watch some football so badly, I miss those days of games every week! But you won't catch me watching it on tv, now if I knew the personalities and names of the players that would totally change it.
I totally had things I wanted to say but I've forgotten them all. I'm excited to go to North Salem next week, it always brings back so many memories walking those halls. And so many faces I'm happy to see and catch up with. Although, when I was there is was a completely different place than it is today I'm sure. It makes me wonder where it'll be in another 6 years.
Since I have nothing to really say, I'm out for now.
After this week is over I will have only slept in my own bed for one night in the past month....you read that right, one night in a month. Now before you go getting any ideas, those other 29 nights have been in hotel rooms with the company of my mother or my book. This week I find myself in Bend, OR. I started this morning before it was even light outside and drove to Madras. It was beautiful outside, the sun coming up and shining beyond Smith Rock, and later down the road a perfect view of Sisters Mountains and...Five Fingered Jack. Maybe its another number because all hands have five fingers so that confuses me why it would be a distictive feature to a mountain top.
"Looks like tarzan and plays like Jane." Hilarious quote from that new football movie that I'm currently watching and completely unaware of the name of. And thus also displaying how easily distracted I am.
Coming home for a day was rejuvenating. Got to see wonderful friends and family, clean my clothes, and be in familar areas for almost two days. I so look forward to my week home next week. Ohmygoodness, I want to go watch some football so badly, I miss those days of games every week! But you won't catch me watching it on tv, now if I knew the personalities and names of the players that would totally change it.
I totally had things I wanted to say but I've forgotten them all. I'm excited to go to North Salem next week, it always brings back so many memories walking those halls. And so many faces I'm happy to see and catch up with. Although, when I was there is was a completely different place than it is today I'm sure. It makes me wonder where it'll be in another 6 years.
Since I have nothing to really say, I'm out for now.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sept. 30th
Of any days that deserve to be blogged from the last three weeks its today. Today has been....terrible. Well, not true, today started terrible and ended alright. I feel as though this should be outlined in chronological order.
7:30am- I leave for my first school visit, which starts at 8am. I get there early, the address I had was actually the school district building verses the actual school, so the school district office gives me the "proper" address. I get going, hoping to only be a bit late. Turns out it took me to an empty field.... all that to say, I called the school I was suppose to be at and got chewed out by the counselor. Curse words come to mind. I bit my tongue while she beraided me for not knowing how to get there, attacked my character for getting lost and basically told me I was incompetent and irresponsible. Awesome.... its not often that people's words can bring me to tears, but I was on the verge. It's also not often I wish I wasn't a calmer person, I actually got off the phone wishing I was someone who could blow up and give this lady back what she was dishing out, but yet I'm not that person so I continued apologizing and took it.
After this terrible phone conversation I needed to get gas and get to another city quite a distance away. Pulled into a gas station, they only took debit or cash. So getting back into my car, I dropped my keys under my seat and had the hardest time getting them back out. I think I was just flustered.
My second visit was actually great. However, throughout the day a storm started coming into Victorville. The counselor even warned us it could be a really bad one tonight as its been workin' its way into town for three days and the winds had picked up quite a bit. It didn't start flash flooding just sprinkling and the winds picked up to a decent mileage. The drive to Long Beach after the fair was actually not bad. The beginning was filled with lightening bolts, I could even see them hitting the ground in the distance. Both sides of the highway. Light sprinkling, nothing too much. And high winds. Not terrible, way better than what was expected and I even made it into town at a decent rate.
Writing my day down makes it not seem as bad as it felt at the time it happened. It definitely wasn't even as bad as the Old Navy commercial I just saw on the tv. I don't think I get yelled at by people very often, and I've got to see I do not appreciate it one bit. Through off my grooze for the whole day.
I come home to Salem tomorrow! I leave again Sunday for Eastern Oregon, but then I'll be back for a whole week after that. I am so excited to sleep in my own bed, do some laundry, wear something not provided in my suitcase. I'm even excited to use full sized toiletries, not use a GPS to get to the next destination, know I might pass someone I know on the street. I like those things. The small things. Or in the toiletries case, the big things.
7:30am- I leave for my first school visit, which starts at 8am. I get there early, the address I had was actually the school district building verses the actual school, so the school district office gives me the "proper" address. I get going, hoping to only be a bit late. Turns out it took me to an empty field.... all that to say, I called the school I was suppose to be at and got chewed out by the counselor. Curse words come to mind. I bit my tongue while she beraided me for not knowing how to get there, attacked my character for getting lost and basically told me I was incompetent and irresponsible. Awesome.... its not often that people's words can bring me to tears, but I was on the verge. It's also not often I wish I wasn't a calmer person, I actually got off the phone wishing I was someone who could blow up and give this lady back what she was dishing out, but yet I'm not that person so I continued apologizing and took it.
After this terrible phone conversation I needed to get gas and get to another city quite a distance away. Pulled into a gas station, they only took debit or cash. So getting back into my car, I dropped my keys under my seat and had the hardest time getting them back out. I think I was just flustered.
My second visit was actually great. However, throughout the day a storm started coming into Victorville. The counselor even warned us it could be a really bad one tonight as its been workin' its way into town for three days and the winds had picked up quite a bit. It didn't start flash flooding just sprinkling and the winds picked up to a decent mileage. The drive to Long Beach after the fair was actually not bad. The beginning was filled with lightening bolts, I could even see them hitting the ground in the distance. Both sides of the highway. Light sprinkling, nothing too much. And high winds. Not terrible, way better than what was expected and I even made it into town at a decent rate.
Writing my day down makes it not seem as bad as it felt at the time it happened. It definitely wasn't even as bad as the Old Navy commercial I just saw on the tv. I don't think I get yelled at by people very often, and I've got to see I do not appreciate it one bit. Through off my grooze for the whole day.
I come home to Salem tomorrow! I leave again Sunday for Eastern Oregon, but then I'll be back for a whole week after that. I am so excited to sleep in my own bed, do some laundry, wear something not provided in my suitcase. I'm even excited to use full sized toiletries, not use a GPS to get to the next destination, know I might pass someone I know on the street. I like those things. The small things. Or in the toiletries case, the big things.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Photos from last few days. Blog below.
A random sampling of past days..jpg)
Both of these, the birds and myself, are from Marina Park at Ventura Beach..jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Sept. 29th- Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Sun Valley and Lancaster
Hello LA traffic. I had been wondering when that particular spectacle was going to hit me, today. Today was the day I hit LA traffic. I truly don't understand why people put themselves through that everyday, it took hours to navigate between a few cities surrounding upper LA and Hollywood. I am by no means a celebrity junkie or fawn at the site of someone famous but there is this childish part of me that wanted to go to Hollywood! I've actually never been there before, and all I kept thinking about was the Anthony Kiedis biography I read a few years ago and how he walked the streets of Hollywood way back in the day. I wanted to walk those same streets....although, time restraint and the knowledge that most likely those streets would attempt to kill me in present day kept me from even trying.
For those of you who don't know who Anthony Kiedis is he's the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He lived a life filled with drugs, sex, other various addictions, spirituality (not religion, not relationship, let me clarify), music and wandering the streets of Hollywood. It was an interesting life story. The truth is, in all of it, you could see that he has a good heart, misplaced, confused, empty of the true love of Christ, but a heart that wants to do the right thing. Probably one of the best biographies I've ever read, even with the foul language and some controversial lifestyle choices.
You will all be way more pleased with my recent readings. I finsihed the Robert Whitlow book, as boring and addictive as I knew it would be. And today I started Jane Eyre, which has been interesting so far. It's a hard transition in use of language between the books I've read recently, not in choice of words, but in order of words. The time period the book was written, or the location the book or author are from change how its read a lot, I just skipped form 20th century to the 1860's or somewhere in that realm.
I met with some students at 8am at Oaks Christian School this morning, in Westlake Village. Beautiful campus and great facilities. One of the most well known Christian schools in CA, probably in the US. Many famous actors and athletes children go or have gone there. Joe Montana, Will Smith....some other athletes, etc. I've got Hollywood fever, name dropping left and right. Haha. I think I need to eat something.
I come home in two days! A fair in Victorville tomorrow night, a long drive back to Long Beach, and I fly out Friday morning. I am so excited, sleep in my own bed for at least two nights. And by at least two nights I mean, exactly two nights, and the I hit then road for other five days in Eastern Oregon. Home for a week after that though, so hope to see some of you during that time period.
For those of you who don't know who Anthony Kiedis is he's the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He lived a life filled with drugs, sex, other various addictions, spirituality (not religion, not relationship, let me clarify), music and wandering the streets of Hollywood. It was an interesting life story. The truth is, in all of it, you could see that he has a good heart, misplaced, confused, empty of the true love of Christ, but a heart that wants to do the right thing. Probably one of the best biographies I've ever read, even with the foul language and some controversial lifestyle choices.
You will all be way more pleased with my recent readings. I finsihed the Robert Whitlow book, as boring and addictive as I knew it would be. And today I started Jane Eyre, which has been interesting so far. It's a hard transition in use of language between the books I've read recently, not in choice of words, but in order of words. The time period the book was written, or the location the book or author are from change how its read a lot, I just skipped form 20th century to the 1860's or somewhere in that realm.
I met with some students at 8am at Oaks Christian School this morning, in Westlake Village. Beautiful campus and great facilities. One of the most well known Christian schools in CA, probably in the US. Many famous actors and athletes children go or have gone there. Joe Montana, Will Smith....some other athletes, etc. I've got Hollywood fever, name dropping left and right. Haha. I think I need to eat something.
I come home in two days! A fair in Victorville tomorrow night, a long drive back to Long Beach, and I fly out Friday morning. I am so excited, sleep in my own bed for at least two nights. And by at least two nights I mean, exactly two nights, and the I hit then road for other five days in Eastern Oregon. Home for a week after that though, so hope to see some of you during that time period.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sept.28th- Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara,Ojai
I sit once again in a Starbucks. Beloved Starbucks, I feel like I should greet the people walking in "welcome to my home away from home," because I spend more time in Starbucks as a whole than anywhere else on the road. I'm directly under an AC vent, however, and its frigid.
I sat by the ocean for an hour before this. Walked around for a bit, found a perfect bench and sat and read for a good length of time. It was peaceful with the waves sloppily hitting the rocks beside me, I could even feel the ocean mist every so often. (((Side note- I don't know what I hit but this blog box just got big and became a different font....))))) As it was peaceful and beautiful, a perfect place to read, I'll probably smell like beach scum when I go out for dinner later this evening. Ah the price to pay for reading spots.
The last few days have flown by in a blur of family, driving and food. Since no church ever got back to me about Sunday to my dismay, and my families delight, I ended up having Saturday and Sunday to devote solely to them. It was awesome, and the perfect timing within my trip to have some more familiar faces around as I was hitting that extreme loneliness that sets in after two weeks alone. Needless to say, we ate, a lot of good food all weekend. We saw a lot of good people, and we caught up on a lot of good life stories. So much can change in a year, so I can't even imagine how much had changed in the eight years since my mom had been in Ventura.
Smell is equated with memory. Walking into my grandparents house, the distinct smell of their home feels like coming home. Walking into that familar smell brings back warm memories, memories that I probably couldn't even describe because I don't really even know what they are, but it more or less brings back a feeling of, home. Safety. Comfort.
Speaking of smells make me want a large dose of Wild Pear mop water to sniff in my room, not in a drug addicted way...well, a little bit. It's such a glorious smell, lemony fresh. Mmm... I love it.
I'm still on the search for a grey dress. I realize grey is one of those words that can be spelled with an E or an A, and that the majority of individuals use the A, however, I don't like the A. I use the E, and I use the E with purpose. Anywho, I tried like four more stores today for a grey dress and am having the hardest time finding one anywhere. Maybe as it gets closer to Christmas and winter, and Oregon, some grey dresses will start popping out of the woodworks because so far I can only find boodilicous ones with heaps of giantic glitter, or business suites fit for a lawyer. Neither of these I would particularly like to portray as a bridesmaid. Amazon.com hasn't even come to my rescue on this one, and we all know that really is my favorite place to shop. The excitment of first buying it online, and then secondly, receiving it in the mail. I'm basically paying Amazon to buy me a gift wrapped in a cardboard box. They might not splurge on the wrapping paper and bows, but they sure come through with exactly what I want, everytime.
I could go for a nap right now.
The fair in Santa Barbara last night was so hot. I'm not even kidding when I say the room we were housed in for the whole fair was probably 110 degrees or hotter the entire time. Since it was in an old school building, we first had to drag our bags and display cases up three flights of stairs, a feat in itself...and then schools were split into groups and placed in individual rooms. I for instance, had two other schools in my tiny math room. Then students and parents were free to wander about and pop into whichever rooms they'd life. We stayed fairly consistent, probably not nearly as busy as any CA schools there in the others rooms, but made some great connections. I had a mom stop by after and whisper to me "I just wanted you to know you were the best sales person here..." As much as I dislike the term salesperson in regards to my job, she meant it in the most complimentary way and was just trying to express her gratitude. That always makes a girl feel like thousand degree classrooms has a purpose and an end result...especially when I didn't intend to sale anything, I just told her the truth.
I've always known that I am a sower. I've never been much of a reaper or a harvester, but I can sow. This came to more of a realization when I was sitting talking to another Admissions Counselor from a small Christian university in the midwest. We'd been next to each other at every fair thus far, and have learned a lot about one another. Before you women get your mind wandering, it hasn't been romantic in any sense, purely platonic as he is engaged and I'm pretty sure we'd make great friends and nothing more even in other circumstances but he's an incredibly nice guy and a great person to chat with during slow times at fairs. So after days of sharing tables, hot rooms in Santa Barbara etc he said to me, "you know, what is God doing in your life? I feel like you know everything happening in my life and my story but I don't know anything about you yet." He continued with " you are a great listener. That's a really great quality in a person, especially a woman of God who wants to listen and ask questions in response, someone who is quiet and listens first, speaks second." I took a few thigns away from this conversation. 1- What a nice comment from someone I barely know. I always wander what someone walks away thinking about me. Not in a I care what people think about me but in a, was I a person I'd be proud of or respect. Would I think, that girl has someone I've got to have, she is so kind, etc. 2- I suppose I do listen more than I talk. To some regards. Some friends might beg to differ on that opinion, but in the general consensus of people. 3- I am a sower, not a reaper. Not a harvest, but a sower. What does that mean in my life. So much of what I think about on the road is application. Who am I becoming and who do I want to become. Is that the same thing, or on opposite sides of the spectrum? 4- Why do I have such a hard time answering the question "what is God doing in my life." Is it just me that has a hard time with that. Specific or general, intimate or just surface level. Maybe because I find relationship wtih God intimate, I find it an intimate topic in my life, that if someone really wants to know its going to need explaining in more than just a few simple words because a few simple words wouldn't even scratch the surface of intimate. I answered him of course, and more or less I told him some stuff I've been contemplating on the road and forcing willing people to read in this blog but these things go through my mind from even that simple question.
As another funny note, I've had headphones in since I got to this Starbucks, quite awhile ago. I just realized I never turned music on, and the music I've been listening to is the Starbucks music in the background. I agree more and more with my moms thought on me sharing some qualities with Katherine Hegel in the movie Killers. How did the station DooWoop get on my Pandora, what the heck is DooWoop. Deny.
That's all I got for now. As Gavin Degraw says- "You have to follow through." Granted, he's talking about feelings for someone, and giving your heart to someone, but it is true that in all other cirumstances in life we have to follow through. Words without action are pointless.Print on a paper. So I go with Gavin, my buddy and pal, we have to follow through.
I sat by the ocean for an hour before this. Walked around for a bit, found a perfect bench and sat and read for a good length of time. It was peaceful with the waves sloppily hitting the rocks beside me, I could even feel the ocean mist every so often. (((Side note- I don't know what I hit but this blog box just got big and became a different font....))))) As it was peaceful and beautiful, a perfect place to read, I'll probably smell like beach scum when I go out for dinner later this evening. Ah the price to pay for reading spots.
The last few days have flown by in a blur of family, driving and food. Since no church ever got back to me about Sunday to my dismay, and my families delight, I ended up having Saturday and Sunday to devote solely to them. It was awesome, and the perfect timing within my trip to have some more familiar faces around as I was hitting that extreme loneliness that sets in after two weeks alone. Needless to say, we ate, a lot of good food all weekend. We saw a lot of good people, and we caught up on a lot of good life stories. So much can change in a year, so I can't even imagine how much had changed in the eight years since my mom had been in Ventura.
Smell is equated with memory. Walking into my grandparents house, the distinct smell of their home feels like coming home. Walking into that familar smell brings back warm memories, memories that I probably couldn't even describe because I don't really even know what they are, but it more or less brings back a feeling of, home. Safety. Comfort.
Speaking of smells make me want a large dose of Wild Pear mop water to sniff in my room, not in a drug addicted way...well, a little bit. It's such a glorious smell, lemony fresh. Mmm... I love it.
I'm still on the search for a grey dress. I realize grey is one of those words that can be spelled with an E or an A, and that the majority of individuals use the A, however, I don't like the A. I use the E, and I use the E with purpose. Anywho, I tried like four more stores today for a grey dress and am having the hardest time finding one anywhere. Maybe as it gets closer to Christmas and winter, and Oregon, some grey dresses will start popping out of the woodworks because so far I can only find boodilicous ones with heaps of giantic glitter, or business suites fit for a lawyer. Neither of these I would particularly like to portray as a bridesmaid. Amazon.com hasn't even come to my rescue on this one, and we all know that really is my favorite place to shop. The excitment of first buying it online, and then secondly, receiving it in the mail. I'm basically paying Amazon to buy me a gift wrapped in a cardboard box. They might not splurge on the wrapping paper and bows, but they sure come through with exactly what I want, everytime.
I could go for a nap right now.
The fair in Santa Barbara last night was so hot. I'm not even kidding when I say the room we were housed in for the whole fair was probably 110 degrees or hotter the entire time. Since it was in an old school building, we first had to drag our bags and display cases up three flights of stairs, a feat in itself...and then schools were split into groups and placed in individual rooms. I for instance, had two other schools in my tiny math room. Then students and parents were free to wander about and pop into whichever rooms they'd life. We stayed fairly consistent, probably not nearly as busy as any CA schools there in the others rooms, but made some great connections. I had a mom stop by after and whisper to me "I just wanted you to know you were the best sales person here..." As much as I dislike the term salesperson in regards to my job, she meant it in the most complimentary way and was just trying to express her gratitude. That always makes a girl feel like thousand degree classrooms has a purpose and an end result...especially when I didn't intend to sale anything, I just told her the truth.
I've always known that I am a sower. I've never been much of a reaper or a harvester, but I can sow. This came to more of a realization when I was sitting talking to another Admissions Counselor from a small Christian university in the midwest. We'd been next to each other at every fair thus far, and have learned a lot about one another. Before you women get your mind wandering, it hasn't been romantic in any sense, purely platonic as he is engaged and I'm pretty sure we'd make great friends and nothing more even in other circumstances but he's an incredibly nice guy and a great person to chat with during slow times at fairs. So after days of sharing tables, hot rooms in Santa Barbara etc he said to me, "you know, what is God doing in your life? I feel like you know everything happening in my life and my story but I don't know anything about you yet." He continued with " you are a great listener. That's a really great quality in a person, especially a woman of God who wants to listen and ask questions in response, someone who is quiet and listens first, speaks second." I took a few thigns away from this conversation. 1- What a nice comment from someone I barely know. I always wander what someone walks away thinking about me. Not in a I care what people think about me but in a, was I a person I'd be proud of or respect. Would I think, that girl has someone I've got to have, she is so kind, etc. 2- I suppose I do listen more than I talk. To some regards. Some friends might beg to differ on that opinion, but in the general consensus of people. 3- I am a sower, not a reaper. Not a harvest, but a sower. What does that mean in my life. So much of what I think about on the road is application. Who am I becoming and who do I want to become. Is that the same thing, or on opposite sides of the spectrum? 4- Why do I have such a hard time answering the question "what is God doing in my life." Is it just me that has a hard time with that. Specific or general, intimate or just surface level. Maybe because I find relationship wtih God intimate, I find it an intimate topic in my life, that if someone really wants to know its going to need explaining in more than just a few simple words because a few simple words wouldn't even scratch the surface of intimate. I answered him of course, and more or less I told him some stuff I've been contemplating on the road and forcing willing people to read in this blog but these things go through my mind from even that simple question.
As another funny note, I've had headphones in since I got to this Starbucks, quite awhile ago. I just realized I never turned music on, and the music I've been listening to is the Starbucks music in the background. I agree more and more with my moms thought on me sharing some qualities with Katherine Hegel in the movie Killers. How did the station DooWoop get on my Pandora, what the heck is DooWoop. Deny.
That's all I got for now. As Gavin Degraw says- "You have to follow through." Granted, he's talking about feelings for someone, and giving your heart to someone, but it is true that in all other cirumstances in life we have to follow through. Words without action are pointless.Print on a paper. So I go with Gavin, my buddy and pal, we have to follow through.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Sept. 23-24
My mom made is safely to Bakersfield and has enjoyed the warm weather here while I ran around town for work. Today is filled with driving to Ventura. Unfortunately, no one got back to me from the school visits I attempted, so it looks like the day is filled with driving, with stops for water and resroom breaks instead.
Tyler told me she expects some good stories with my mom being around, so I only feel obliged to give you a few. The room we have right now is one king bed, so of course we're just sharing it. It might be true that last night "someone" woke me up in a panic. My mother, Tonja, was wondering if I could see the blinking red light on the tv. I of course could, so I sad yes. But then she wanted to know if the light was moving around the screen, the stationary red light at the bottom of the tv signifying that the tv is off. I told her no, its not, can I go back to bed please. Story #1- Done.
So not too many stories from the past few days. I had an interesting school visit yesterday where when I showed up it was lunch time and they sent me to this table wtih a couple teachers sitting at it. Students started following me and before I could put anything on the table they just stood around me, so I handed out literature that way and stood and talked with this circle around me. It was weird, but entertaining I suppose.
Last night, when I got home from the college fair my mom and I got in the hot tub here at the hotel. It was beautiful, a full moon, warm water and palm trees, very relaxing. Anyway, when we came back in to change into pajamas, I had a black tank top, it disappeared! I can't find it anywhere, in my hand one moment and completely gone the next. I still can't figure out where it is, how does that even happen.
Tyler told me she expects some good stories with my mom being around, so I only feel obliged to give you a few. The room we have right now is one king bed, so of course we're just sharing it. It might be true that last night "someone" woke me up in a panic. My mother, Tonja, was wondering if I could see the blinking red light on the tv. I of course could, so I sad yes. But then she wanted to know if the light was moving around the screen, the stationary red light at the bottom of the tv signifying that the tv is off. I told her no, its not, can I go back to bed please. Story #1- Done.
So not too many stories from the past few days. I had an interesting school visit yesterday where when I showed up it was lunch time and they sent me to this table wtih a couple teachers sitting at it. Students started following me and before I could put anything on the table they just stood around me, so I handed out literature that way and stood and talked with this circle around me. It was weird, but entertaining I suppose.
Last night, when I got home from the college fair my mom and I got in the hot tub here at the hotel. It was beautiful, a full moon, warm water and palm trees, very relaxing. Anyway, when we came back in to change into pajamas, I had a black tank top, it disappeared! I can't find it anywhere, in my hand one moment and completely gone the next. I still can't figure out where it is, how does that even happen.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Sept.22nd- Bakersfield...AKA, PGE bill due
Tonight I stay in Bakersfield for school visits tomorrow and a Christian College Fair tomorrow night. Two nights in the same place! It's almost like winning the lottery, only with not as many fiscal benefits, or the excited "woohoo!"
My first visit of the morning I figured would be a handful of students tops, yet I had about 40 of them bright eyed and ready. I think we'll have some real interest from them. Part of my day consisted of driving around, I went to some random towns between Hanford and Bakersfield, which is a good stretch of road.
I think I'm really tired because the song by Perry "If I Die Young" makes me want to cry every time it plays. I can always tell when I'm tired or stressed by the amount of emotion I actually allow to show, so I think my watery eyes probably speaks volumes. I've been in this country kick, I can't get enough on the road. It might be in due part to the corn husks and green fields I pass one after another, or I'm just gettin' in touch with my blue grass roots.
I know I said a few posts ago how I want to feed the homeless on Thanksgiving and want to get involved in it on a consistent basis at home, and that's still true as of this very moment. Today though, my heart just went out to this man that was sitting with his dog at a gas station. So when I ran inside to use the restroom I couldn't help myself from buying some gatorade and various food items and then some tartar fighting gum (I realize how silly that sounds but I really thought he might like some clean feeling teeth) to bring out to him. So I gave it to him when I left, pumped some gas and took off to my next school visit. When I was pumping the gas I looked over and he was smiling, sifting through the bag and talking to his dog. I should've felt really good after that, doing something kind usually has that effect on the do-er and the receiver, but I just left wondering where he would get food tomorrow. There are so many homeless people, and I can't help but feel compassion for them, even individuals who made choices to get themselves in that position in the first place.
Did anyone watch the season premiere of Glee last night! I was so sad to miss it, it started at 8pm, when my fair ended, plus I had an hour drive after to get to my hotel for the night. Today, however, I definitely watched it for $5 on Demand, I couldn't help myself! I tried to watch it on hulu on my netbook but it kept freezing and skipping, all in all, I needed the full of effect of fantasticness. I'll admit....I'm really excited for this season to get going, I'm addicted to that show, and its a great break from the NCIS and Bones I watch so much of at night on the road.
During another of my drives today I was thinking, as the trend has gone, how much I become enmeshed with books that I'm reading. I finished the latest one that I got, I decided I really needed some Christian writing after the last two. "The Likeness" was a great book, but much like the last, it used some choice words but in an Irish accent and a British accent, so it was just so fitting for the character, not to excuse it. This is embarrassing, but apparently I've trained my mind to skip those things that I literally read it to say "F that or this..." or "ohmygoodness" or "crap" instead of other words that would be considered cursing or blasphemous (if I were to recall a particular sentence, I would remember the clean version, that weird). The taking the Lord's name in vain is the one that really does get me, I do not like that. I know you would think the girl who adores and has a secret word love affair with the term ass would not be so conservative with the rest, but I indeed am. You just have to admit ass is like the greatest most descriptive word, as long as its not paired with another word that turns into a white trash term, so really people, use some class when using the term ass.
So my newest books, Robert Whitlow's "Deeper Water" (I don't understand why I continue buying his books because I find them so incredibly boring at times but so intriguing as well) and then I also purchased Jane Eyre. I thought ahead this time, its taking me less than a week to finish a book, better buy two at a time.
Back to my original thought. I realized I become really immersed in the story. The last one was an undercover detective living with this group of graduate and doctorate students to solve a murder, not quite as cliche as it sounds I promise. The characters were so interesting, real academics who read every night, played and created music, didn't own a tv, lived in an old inherited house in the Ireland lanes surrounded by trees and a garden. I literally could see myself enjoying a conversation with them and partaking in their home cooked meals. Immersed. I thought my imagination had died down when my age increased, apparently it was just taking a nap because its back full force.
My mom should be here within 45 minutes! My uncle Todd is driving her from Fresno to Bakersfield, hope she can find something to do tomorow while I have school visits and a fair. :o) The pool, hot tub, near by stores, and abundance of books in my suitcase might suffice. All that to say, I'm so excited for her to join me! Conversation....with people over the age of 17 and not solely about Corban!
Life lesson learned for the day- when ordering lunch thinking I'll take most of this to go with me so I have some food in the hotel incase my mom gets hungry doesn't actually mean its going to happen. Nice thought. Fat chance. I sat at Applebees with my new Roberty Whitlow boring book that I will eventually adore and ordered the three appetizer special thing. I thought, I'll eat one of them and bring the other two home. Home equaling hotel of the night of course. Yeah...that didn't happen. I ate one, picked at another and was stucked with food items in front of me that won't travel well in a warm car for hours. So like I said, nice thought...fat chance.
My first visit of the morning I figured would be a handful of students tops, yet I had about 40 of them bright eyed and ready. I think we'll have some real interest from them. Part of my day consisted of driving around, I went to some random towns between Hanford and Bakersfield, which is a good stretch of road.
I think I'm really tired because the song by Perry "If I Die Young" makes me want to cry every time it plays. I can always tell when I'm tired or stressed by the amount of emotion I actually allow to show, so I think my watery eyes probably speaks volumes. I've been in this country kick, I can't get enough on the road. It might be in due part to the corn husks and green fields I pass one after another, or I'm just gettin' in touch with my blue grass roots.
I know I said a few posts ago how I want to feed the homeless on Thanksgiving and want to get involved in it on a consistent basis at home, and that's still true as of this very moment. Today though, my heart just went out to this man that was sitting with his dog at a gas station. So when I ran inside to use the restroom I couldn't help myself from buying some gatorade and various food items and then some tartar fighting gum (I realize how silly that sounds but I really thought he might like some clean feeling teeth) to bring out to him. So I gave it to him when I left, pumped some gas and took off to my next school visit. When I was pumping the gas I looked over and he was smiling, sifting through the bag and talking to his dog. I should've felt really good after that, doing something kind usually has that effect on the do-er and the receiver, but I just left wondering where he would get food tomorrow. There are so many homeless people, and I can't help but feel compassion for them, even individuals who made choices to get themselves in that position in the first place.
Did anyone watch the season premiere of Glee last night! I was so sad to miss it, it started at 8pm, when my fair ended, plus I had an hour drive after to get to my hotel for the night. Today, however, I definitely watched it for $5 on Demand, I couldn't help myself! I tried to watch it on hulu on my netbook but it kept freezing and skipping, all in all, I needed the full of effect of fantasticness. I'll admit....I'm really excited for this season to get going, I'm addicted to that show, and its a great break from the NCIS and Bones I watch so much of at night on the road.
During another of my drives today I was thinking, as the trend has gone, how much I become enmeshed with books that I'm reading. I finished the latest one that I got, I decided I really needed some Christian writing after the last two. "The Likeness" was a great book, but much like the last, it used some choice words but in an Irish accent and a British accent, so it was just so fitting for the character, not to excuse it. This is embarrassing, but apparently I've trained my mind to skip those things that I literally read it to say "F that or this..." or "ohmygoodness" or "crap" instead of other words that would be considered cursing or blasphemous (if I were to recall a particular sentence, I would remember the clean version, that weird). The taking the Lord's name in vain is the one that really does get me, I do not like that. I know you would think the girl who adores and has a secret word love affair with the term ass would not be so conservative with the rest, but I indeed am. You just have to admit ass is like the greatest most descriptive word, as long as its not paired with another word that turns into a white trash term, so really people, use some class when using the term ass.
So my newest books, Robert Whitlow's "Deeper Water" (I don't understand why I continue buying his books because I find them so incredibly boring at times but so intriguing as well) and then I also purchased Jane Eyre. I thought ahead this time, its taking me less than a week to finish a book, better buy two at a time.
Back to my original thought. I realized I become really immersed in the story. The last one was an undercover detective living with this group of graduate and doctorate students to solve a murder, not quite as cliche as it sounds I promise. The characters were so interesting, real academics who read every night, played and created music, didn't own a tv, lived in an old inherited house in the Ireland lanes surrounded by trees and a garden. I literally could see myself enjoying a conversation with them and partaking in their home cooked meals. Immersed. I thought my imagination had died down when my age increased, apparently it was just taking a nap because its back full force.
My mom should be here within 45 minutes! My uncle Todd is driving her from Fresno to Bakersfield, hope she can find something to do tomorow while I have school visits and a fair. :o) The pool, hot tub, near by stores, and abundance of books in my suitcase might suffice. All that to say, I'm so excited for her to join me! Conversation....with people over the age of 17 and not solely about Corban!
Life lesson learned for the day- when ordering lunch thinking I'll take most of this to go with me so I have some food in the hotel incase my mom gets hungry doesn't actually mean its going to happen. Nice thought. Fat chance. I sat at Applebees with my new Roberty Whitlow boring book that I will eventually adore and ordered the three appetizer special thing. I thought, I'll eat one of them and bring the other two home. Home equaling hotel of the night of course. Yeah...that didn't happen. I ate one, picked at another and was stucked with food items in front of me that won't travel well in a warm car for hours. So like I said, nice thought...fat chance.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sept. 21st, Dinuba-Fresno-Clovis-Hanford
I just took a big bite of cooked spinach, its leaving a bad taste indeed. Better, its now being masked by a coat of pesto and sundried tomato. Much better. I'm a walking commercial for Tide Sticks, as some delicious pesto also decided to grace my white skirt. Tide Stick to the rescue!
Last night I stayed in Dinuba, I loved it. Prayers must have been going out, which is much appreciated, because I felt like I got a pretty good nights rest. I was asleep before 11pm and only woke up once or twice in the night, that was exponentially better that the past weeks attempts. I'm currently sitting in a Starbucks, whats new. Must be a popular one because there wasn't even an opportunity to stalk a table and chair its so busy. I ended up sharing the handicap table, near an outlet, with a kid on his laptop, nice enough and quiet. Perfect. Probably looked to everyone else that I was hitting on him by asking to share the rather large table, and I'm okay with that as long as I get an outlet for my dead computer and free internet.
I have discovered another town I love- Reedley. I had a school visit there this morning, the counselors were so nice and friendly. I had a little extra time after so I went and walked the river a bit that was near the school before heading back into Fresno for more visits and a fair tonight. It was probably the most perfect floating river I've ever seen, just enough current to drift you down slowly, sleepily even. I was taking some photos, stepping through roots embedded into this hillside, and then flowing down into the riverbed, to get the best shot. I started noticing that the roots were moving, here and there....these fairly large brown lizards were racing around! I probably should've moved out of the roots with the fact that I have a skirt and sandals on, but I got distracted by some spider webs and watching the lizards. It did cross my mind that California probably has more poisonous and aggressive species of reptiles and arachnids, but I just didn't care, it was too beautiful outside and too intriguing. I do have to wonder what the few people sitting in their cars in the parking lot were thinking about the lady dressed in professional clothes rummaging around in tree roots. To each their own is what I say...
I think the rest of this week will go by quickly, with my mom meeting me tomorrow in Bakersfield. Just having someone to talk to makes the time go by quickly. Although my imagination does a pretty great job of entertaining me on the road, seriously, I literally wonder if I have a mental issue with how much my mind can wander and amuse itself for hours. Is that normal? I don't even know, and I have a psych degree, you'd think I'd know that answer. I play with bugs, that is my only defense. Well, if defense also equals evidence for not normal.
For family out there, I think this Thanksgiving we should serve food in the shelter. I actually want to do that on a consistent basis, but also don't want to do it alone. I know, whats this year gets going and it starts to get dark around 5pm it wouldn't be the most ideally safe situation to put myself in, so anyone else interested? I was thinking about that this morning.
I have a bruise on my left upper arm, where the humorous is. How did I get said bruise one may be asking? By getting hit by an elevator door. When I was leaving the Holiday Inn in Downtown Fresno, my bag was so incredibly heavy because I had a box of literature fresh from the mail on top of it as I tried to get into an elevator. Not quick enough, I think that demon machine wanted to crush my bones into powder. It hurt for like an hour after. Be proud, I didn't even curse or anything, not even in a British accent because that would've made it okay.
Perhaps, more to come tonight after the Fair and drive to the next city I'm staying.
Last night I stayed in Dinuba, I loved it. Prayers must have been going out, which is much appreciated, because I felt like I got a pretty good nights rest. I was asleep before 11pm and only woke up once or twice in the night, that was exponentially better that the past weeks attempts. I'm currently sitting in a Starbucks, whats new. Must be a popular one because there wasn't even an opportunity to stalk a table and chair its so busy. I ended up sharing the handicap table, near an outlet, with a kid on his laptop, nice enough and quiet. Perfect. Probably looked to everyone else that I was hitting on him by asking to share the rather large table, and I'm okay with that as long as I get an outlet for my dead computer and free internet.
I have discovered another town I love- Reedley. I had a school visit there this morning, the counselors were so nice and friendly. I had a little extra time after so I went and walked the river a bit that was near the school before heading back into Fresno for more visits and a fair tonight. It was probably the most perfect floating river I've ever seen, just enough current to drift you down slowly, sleepily even. I was taking some photos, stepping through roots embedded into this hillside, and then flowing down into the riverbed, to get the best shot. I started noticing that the roots were moving, here and there....these fairly large brown lizards were racing around! I probably should've moved out of the roots with the fact that I have a skirt and sandals on, but I got distracted by some spider webs and watching the lizards. It did cross my mind that California probably has more poisonous and aggressive species of reptiles and arachnids, but I just didn't care, it was too beautiful outside and too intriguing. I do have to wonder what the few people sitting in their cars in the parking lot were thinking about the lady dressed in professional clothes rummaging around in tree roots. To each their own is what I say...
I think the rest of this week will go by quickly, with my mom meeting me tomorrow in Bakersfield. Just having someone to talk to makes the time go by quickly. Although my imagination does a pretty great job of entertaining me on the road, seriously, I literally wonder if I have a mental issue with how much my mind can wander and amuse itself for hours. Is that normal? I don't even know, and I have a psych degree, you'd think I'd know that answer. I play with bugs, that is my only defense. Well, if defense also equals evidence for not normal.
For family out there, I think this Thanksgiving we should serve food in the shelter. I actually want to do that on a consistent basis, but also don't want to do it alone. I know, whats this year gets going and it starts to get dark around 5pm it wouldn't be the most ideally safe situation to put myself in, so anyone else interested? I was thinking about that this morning.
I have a bruise on my left upper arm, where the humorous is. How did I get said bruise one may be asking? By getting hit by an elevator door. When I was leaving the Holiday Inn in Downtown Fresno, my bag was so incredibly heavy because I had a box of literature fresh from the mail on top of it as I tried to get into an elevator. Not quick enough, I think that demon machine wanted to crush my bones into powder. It hurt for like an hour after. Be proud, I didn't even curse or anything, not even in a British accent because that would've made it okay.
Perhaps, more to come tonight after the Fair and drive to the next city I'm staying.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Sept. 19th...20th? what day is it
I'm at that point when I don't really even know what day it is. I knew today was Monday, but I also thought saturday and sunday were also monday....so....really I was just bound to finally get it right one of these days. I am at a Starbucks in Fresno right now. I literally just stalked a much covetted table and chair for almost an hour and a half. That's not even an exaggeration, sadly. I was in the seat with a broken electrical outlet and in front of the door directly, so the breeze was hitting me. Now, since some chatty cathy's finally left, I stole their seat before they were even all the way out the door. I'm tucked in a nice corner, can see the entire store, and have a warm window with sunlight hitting my legs.Good things do come to those who wait.
I love Tracy Chapman. I made a bet last year with David if it was a woman or man...I won. Apparently he doesn't get out much, because obviously its a woman. :o) Although who am I to speak, I stalked a table and chair for over an hour, that doesn't exactly scream wild adventures.
I have been very international within this time frame though. Getting some work done for Salem, OR. Emailed back Kristy in Croatia. Talked with Hannah on slype in Poland, while she talked with someone in Albania and bought a ticket to Germany. See, all over the world. I'm driving to both Madera Nochos and Dinuba today as well. I've been looking for a spa in town that gives massages for not a million bucks, but nothing is open or I can't get through. My back hurts to bad, its radiating down a leg. I don't think that's a good thing. And I didn't sleep last night, barely at all, so my eyes are bloodshot. I look like I had a wild night, I wonder what the kids in my early class thought this morning...they were barely awake, so I'm sure they didn't even notice.
Can anyone recommend a good book? I've almost finished the one I picked up on like wednesday I think. The money I spend the most of on the road goes to books. I can't get enough, everytime I'm eating I'm reading, anytime I'm killing time between school visits and fairs, if I'm not emailing for work then I'm reading. It's times like this I almost wish I was a slower reader, it'd certainly help my pocket book.
I'm off for now. Perhaps I'll have more to add in later tonight or tomorrow. Hope everyone is doing well back home. Miss everyone.
I love Tracy Chapman. I made a bet last year with David if it was a woman or man...I won. Apparently he doesn't get out much, because obviously its a woman. :o) Although who am I to speak, I stalked a table and chair for over an hour, that doesn't exactly scream wild adventures.
I have been very international within this time frame though. Getting some work done for Salem, OR. Emailed back Kristy in Croatia. Talked with Hannah on slype in Poland, while she talked with someone in Albania and bought a ticket to Germany. See, all over the world. I'm driving to both Madera Nochos and Dinuba today as well. I've been looking for a spa in town that gives massages for not a million bucks, but nothing is open or I can't get through. My back hurts to bad, its radiating down a leg. I don't think that's a good thing. And I didn't sleep last night, barely at all, so my eyes are bloodshot. I look like I had a wild night, I wonder what the kids in my early class thought this morning...they were barely awake, so I'm sure they didn't even notice.
Can anyone recommend a good book? I've almost finished the one I picked up on like wednesday I think. The money I spend the most of on the road goes to books. I can't get enough, everytime I'm eating I'm reading, anytime I'm killing time between school visits and fairs, if I'm not emailing for work then I'm reading. It's times like this I almost wish I was a slower reader, it'd certainly help my pocket book.
I'm off for now. Perhaps I'll have more to add in later tonight or tomorrow. Hope everyone is doing well back home. Miss everyone.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sept. 18th, Fresno
So yesterday I was in Morro Bay for the majority of the day, after visits, which went grandly. I was planning on speaking for a class for a short amount of time, ended up being an hour talk, it was awesome! I feel like since that class room I've just been driving, driving, driving....and I'm so tired of driving now. I think I'm permanently bent in a 90 degree angle from sitting for so long.
Morro Bay was a really interesting place, I'd definitely never been there before. It was fog central, almost an eerie town. I was housed with two older couples in my room...okay, not literally in my room, but it sure felt like it with how thin the walls were. The room was cute, and even as an outdoor access hotel room I felt very safe, probably largely in part to knowing there were happy older couples all around me. Apparently, according to Glenda and Gary on the right side of the room, they visited a house yesterday that was huge...and did you know the man who owns it did most of it himself and apparently has quite a nest egg stocked up. Compelling stuff. Left wall, they just watched the news and mumbled throughout the whole ordeal, therefore not as compelling.
If you've ever seen the Steven King movie The Fog, I'm pretty sure they just went to Morro Bay and filmed it there, minus the large insects and acid weaving spiders. Anyway, after leaving the foggilicious land I just drove for....ever, and then got to Fresno.
The drive took me through a highway I'd never been on before, to my knowledge, it was Hwy 41. It was absolutely beautiful. My first surprise was looking up from day dreaming and seeing neon colors, I seriously wasn't sure if I was daydreaming those or not, but there they were, fields of neon orange and neon yellow. Flowers! Thousands of flowers! Of course I had to stop and just gaze and take a few photos, it was so beautiful set against all green and browns of the hills and fields. As I continued driving I came into a pretty desolate part of the highway for the last few hours and just took the opportunity to think.
It's crazy that sometimes what it takes to hear your own voice is when you can't any longer actually hear your own voice. My voice drowns out my thoughts. I finally got to hear that deep rooted voice within me, the part that houses the passion- the love, the pain. It was one of the happiest, albeit longest, drives I've had in a long time.
One of the things that kept me occupied for awhile was thinking about if I won the lottery. At first I thought, what would I do if I won $50,000. I decided I would take out 10% for tithe first. With the remainder I would pay off my car completely, put around $10,000 in savings to accrue interest and be back up money. With the remaining sum I would put towards student loans.Then I thought what if it was in the millions, one million or 60 million, didn't matter. Here is what I decided, and believe or not this took a long time once I finally looked at the clock and realized how much I got sucked into my own imagination. So with millions I would pay off my car, pay off my student loans. I would first, however, take a tithe out and split it between a few churches and mission organizations. I would also pay off my brothers and aunts student loans and set aside a full college amount for my little sister. I would pay any debt my parents might have. I would buy myself a new home, nothing crazy fancy but I would be involved in the design and add in an art room. I would buy my parents a new home and create a full and comfy retirement for myself and them both. I would have them keep their current home and put it up for sell or rent, I was thinking rent for students at Corban or Willamette. I would lay down $20,000 for a house one of my aunts wants, the down payment they needed. I would make an anoynomous payment to pay off a couple friends student loan bills. I would make some investments and set a huge chunk to just accrue interest. As an immediate gratification, I would take Donica, Alissa and myself to Europe to backpack around for awhile, I think I would want us to travel how we normally do, except this time we would have a bit nicer hotels and perhaps a few more meals in a day, verses are like one actual meal a day in Mexico. Haha. Then I really got to thinking that I would like to start a Christian organization, adopting a village in much need of an economic boost, and find out what they are good at. Give them clean water, a school, a church and all the resources they would need, but help them create money on their own so the growth and economic standing would increase and continue by their own hands. Oh, and I also decided two more things. I literally in my mind did it this way too, thought of other things for awhile completely unrelated, and then added these on in the car. I thought I want to help kids at North, when I was there last week and when I did my internship in the career and counseling center my senior year at Corban, I saw so much need and not enough encouragement. I want to give them a scholarship to work towards, a school to be proud of, and someting that would help- I'm just not sure what. The other thing I thought of is I would start the Kendra Leigh Foundation, to help college kids with cancer. It's that odd in between time period where some students aren't on parents insurance anymore, but they don't work enough to really make money. I think Kendra would like to of helped people. Apparently I can spend money really quickly.
And that was what I came up with in my daze...
I thought about if I were to get married sometime soon what would I want as a wedding. It was crazy because I literally couldn't think of anything, it was just a blank. Apparently without the man in place I really don't know what I would do. Of course there are a few ideas out there still, I mean, I am still a woman and a thinker. :o)
I looked at the land that God made and gave to us. The beauty was breathtaking. I pondered what it was God had put me in this land to do. What is my purpose, what are my skills sets I haven't been using to His advantage. So much to consider. I think we all need some long solo car rides to really consider what life is all about, because its most certainly not about us, not about our comfort....interestingly enough that was what about my last Bible Study was about. It's Not About Me by Max Lucado, it was a really great book, I recommend it.
This is a long one, sorry. I'll put some photos up from the last two days.
The amazing breakfast that was delivered to my room at the Apple Farm. It was so good but I got full so fast. The was hands down the best scone I've ever had.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Morro Bay was a really interesting place, I'd definitely never been there before. It was fog central, almost an eerie town. I was housed with two older couples in my room...okay, not literally in my room, but it sure felt like it with how thin the walls were. The room was cute, and even as an outdoor access hotel room I felt very safe, probably largely in part to knowing there were happy older couples all around me. Apparently, according to Glenda and Gary on the right side of the room, they visited a house yesterday that was huge...and did you know the man who owns it did most of it himself and apparently has quite a nest egg stocked up. Compelling stuff. Left wall, they just watched the news and mumbled throughout the whole ordeal, therefore not as compelling.
If you've ever seen the Steven King movie The Fog, I'm pretty sure they just went to Morro Bay and filmed it there, minus the large insects and acid weaving spiders. Anyway, after leaving the foggilicious land I just drove for....ever, and then got to Fresno.
The drive took me through a highway I'd never been on before, to my knowledge, it was Hwy 41. It was absolutely beautiful. My first surprise was looking up from day dreaming and seeing neon colors, I seriously wasn't sure if I was daydreaming those or not, but there they were, fields of neon orange and neon yellow. Flowers! Thousands of flowers! Of course I had to stop and just gaze and take a few photos, it was so beautiful set against all green and browns of the hills and fields. As I continued driving I came into a pretty desolate part of the highway for the last few hours and just took the opportunity to think.
It's crazy that sometimes what it takes to hear your own voice is when you can't any longer actually hear your own voice. My voice drowns out my thoughts. I finally got to hear that deep rooted voice within me, the part that houses the passion- the love, the pain. It was one of the happiest, albeit longest, drives I've had in a long time.
One of the things that kept me occupied for awhile was thinking about if I won the lottery. At first I thought, what would I do if I won $50,000. I decided I would take out 10% for tithe first. With the remainder I would pay off my car completely, put around $10,000 in savings to accrue interest and be back up money. With the remaining sum I would put towards student loans.Then I thought what if it was in the millions, one million or 60 million, didn't matter. Here is what I decided, and believe or not this took a long time once I finally looked at the clock and realized how much I got sucked into my own imagination. So with millions I would pay off my car, pay off my student loans. I would first, however, take a tithe out and split it between a few churches and mission organizations. I would also pay off my brothers and aunts student loans and set aside a full college amount for my little sister. I would pay any debt my parents might have. I would buy myself a new home, nothing crazy fancy but I would be involved in the design and add in an art room. I would buy my parents a new home and create a full and comfy retirement for myself and them both. I would have them keep their current home and put it up for sell or rent, I was thinking rent for students at Corban or Willamette. I would lay down $20,000 for a house one of my aunts wants, the down payment they needed. I would make an anoynomous payment to pay off a couple friends student loan bills. I would make some investments and set a huge chunk to just accrue interest. As an immediate gratification, I would take Donica, Alissa and myself to Europe to backpack around for awhile, I think I would want us to travel how we normally do, except this time we would have a bit nicer hotels and perhaps a few more meals in a day, verses are like one actual meal a day in Mexico. Haha. Then I really got to thinking that I would like to start a Christian organization, adopting a village in much need of an economic boost, and find out what they are good at. Give them clean water, a school, a church and all the resources they would need, but help them create money on their own so the growth and economic standing would increase and continue by their own hands. Oh, and I also decided two more things. I literally in my mind did it this way too, thought of other things for awhile completely unrelated, and then added these on in the car. I thought I want to help kids at North, when I was there last week and when I did my internship in the career and counseling center my senior year at Corban, I saw so much need and not enough encouragement. I want to give them a scholarship to work towards, a school to be proud of, and someting that would help- I'm just not sure what. The other thing I thought of is I would start the Kendra Leigh Foundation, to help college kids with cancer. It's that odd in between time period where some students aren't on parents insurance anymore, but they don't work enough to really make money. I think Kendra would like to of helped people. Apparently I can spend money really quickly.
And that was what I came up with in my daze...
I thought about if I were to get married sometime soon what would I want as a wedding. It was crazy because I literally couldn't think of anything, it was just a blank. Apparently without the man in place I really don't know what I would do. Of course there are a few ideas out there still, I mean, I am still a woman and a thinker. :o)
I looked at the land that God made and gave to us. The beauty was breathtaking. I pondered what it was God had put me in this land to do. What is my purpose, what are my skills sets I haven't been using to His advantage. So much to consider. I think we all need some long solo car rides to really consider what life is all about, because its most certainly not about us, not about our comfort....interestingly enough that was what about my last Bible Study was about. It's Not About Me by Max Lucado, it was a really great book, I recommend it.
This is a long one, sorry. I'll put some photos up from the last two days.
The amazing breakfast that was delivered to my room at the Apple Farm. It was so good but I got full so fast. The was hands down the best scone I've ever had.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Sept. 16th, San Luis Obispo...and Monterey and Pacific Grove.
I am just like the most pleased woman right now. Here I am, sitting in a canopy bed, the fire place going, a new book next to me, I just ate a delicious club sandwich (one of my all time favorite foods), and as a little revenge against calories I also picked up a couple pieces of Sees Candy as a little treat for the day- those are also next to me. The Apple Farm, my residence for the night, is absolutely adorable! And San Luis Obispo makes me feel like I'm driving around a huge zoo/Jurassic park, its beautiful. Huge hills surrounding this valley, trees, palm trees and green everywhere, its definitely one of the prettiest areas of California I've ever been in.
Today's events have changed dramatically, much like the climate and demographic. I started this morning off in fog and as a minority. The career center I spoke in this morning I was literally the only white person, every single person in this filled room was latino, which was cool but still an interesting change of dynamics. The morning and afternoon were in the 50's and 60's, cold, windy and like I said- foggy. It was like a fog machine followed me around for a few hours.
And then came the drive to San Luis Obispo, my private promised land of the week. Books, chocolate, and cute little water wheels outside my window changed this day around.
I just finished Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. It was a great book, but definitely not for the easily offended. It offered some choice words, but they were British accented curse words...somehow that seems to make it less bad. I have no explanation over this thought process. Did I mention I have a basket of chocolate kisses and Martinelli apple juices that were waiting for me in my room? Or that I'm getting served breakfast to my room in the morning- fresh pastries, boysenberry jam, fresh fruit, vanilla yogurt, fresh squeezed orange juice, and coffee. I feel a little more than spoiled right now. If I was getting a back massage for free this very moment I might never leave. Anyway, it was an interesting book and he has a unique way of writing that I grew to enjoy. Getting on a suspense kick I bought another book from Borders as soon as I got into town today called "The Likeness." I read another one of her books that was on Targets top seller one of the past travel seasons that I simi enjoyed. They were plum out of all my favorite authors, or least the books I haven't read of theirs.
Funnny story of the day. So, I've been driving this cherry red rental car for a few days now right. Put quite a few miles in, today was over 200 miles in itself. I needed gas, finally. I had been driving for awhile, and started noticing that towns were becoming sparser and scarier so I decided to stop in Gonzalez I believe. I got out, tried to open the gas cap and couldn't get it so figured I needed to press a switch in the car. I spent about 5 minutes checking around everywhere and couldn't find anything to open the gas lid thing. Everywhere! Finally, I called my mom hoping that maybe she could google it for me, so I gave her the info for the car.....or at least the info I could figure out. She was able to get it at least, and began the google search while I continued checking every nook and cranny. Still nothing. Throughout this time being I was ready to also pee my pants from the obscene amount of water I've been downing to keep full and hydrated, and I was also wearing a skirt in a very windy town.....
So, I get out., one last time and tug on the gas lid thing and it indeed popped open. Woohoo! No switch needed within the car, it was just a manual normal open it up case. So pumped my gas, because I know how now and moved my car to another spot. To sum up the windy skirt segment, yes, the wind did catch my skirt and yes I probably flashed a few people. And yes, I did have a guy wave at me and smile real big. To sum up the pee like a racehorse segment, I did find the litte bathroom attached to the gas store, it was much like those in horror movies. Completely disgusting, murky blue tiles and dirty. Yuck. However, I have my trusty bath and body works spray antibacterial, which covered my hands and my steering wheel after that visit.
I noticed another random event during my car drive as well. It started out with the majority of the commercials being one of three things. One- fast food. Two-a beach party thing in watsonville. Three-the fact that there is a law office that will now bail out loved ones from jail. What a way to bring comfort.
And now for some photos from today.... :o)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Today's events have changed dramatically, much like the climate and demographic. I started this morning off in fog and as a minority. The career center I spoke in this morning I was literally the only white person, every single person in this filled room was latino, which was cool but still an interesting change of dynamics. The morning and afternoon were in the 50's and 60's, cold, windy and like I said- foggy. It was like a fog machine followed me around for a few hours.
And then came the drive to San Luis Obispo, my private promised land of the week. Books, chocolate, and cute little water wheels outside my window changed this day around.
I just finished Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. It was a great book, but definitely not for the easily offended. It offered some choice words, but they were British accented curse words...somehow that seems to make it less bad. I have no explanation over this thought process. Did I mention I have a basket of chocolate kisses and Martinelli apple juices that were waiting for me in my room? Or that I'm getting served breakfast to my room in the morning- fresh pastries, boysenberry jam, fresh fruit, vanilla yogurt, fresh squeezed orange juice, and coffee. I feel a little more than spoiled right now. If I was getting a back massage for free this very moment I might never leave. Anyway, it was an interesting book and he has a unique way of writing that I grew to enjoy. Getting on a suspense kick I bought another book from Borders as soon as I got into town today called "The Likeness." I read another one of her books that was on Targets top seller one of the past travel seasons that I simi enjoyed. They were plum out of all my favorite authors, or least the books I haven't read of theirs.
Funnny story of the day. So, I've been driving this cherry red rental car for a few days now right. Put quite a few miles in, today was over 200 miles in itself. I needed gas, finally. I had been driving for awhile, and started noticing that towns were becoming sparser and scarier so I decided to stop in Gonzalez I believe. I got out, tried to open the gas cap and couldn't get it so figured I needed to press a switch in the car. I spent about 5 minutes checking around everywhere and couldn't find anything to open the gas lid thing. Everywhere! Finally, I called my mom hoping that maybe she could google it for me, so I gave her the info for the car.....or at least the info I could figure out. She was able to get it at least, and began the google search while I continued checking every nook and cranny. Still nothing. Throughout this time being I was ready to also pee my pants from the obscene amount of water I've been downing to keep full and hydrated, and I was also wearing a skirt in a very windy town.....
So, I get out., one last time and tug on the gas lid thing and it indeed popped open. Woohoo! No switch needed within the car, it was just a manual normal open it up case. So pumped my gas, because I know how now and moved my car to another spot. To sum up the windy skirt segment, yes, the wind did catch my skirt and yes I probably flashed a few people. And yes, I did have a guy wave at me and smile real big. To sum up the pee like a racehorse segment, I did find the litte bathroom attached to the gas store, it was much like those in horror movies. Completely disgusting, murky blue tiles and dirty. Yuck. However, I have my trusty bath and body works spray antibacterial, which covered my hands and my steering wheel after that visit.
I noticed another random event during my car drive as well. It started out with the majority of the commercials being one of three things. One- fast food. Two-a beach party thing in watsonville. Three-the fact that there is a law office that will now bail out loved ones from jail. What a way to bring comfort.
And now for some photos from today.... :o)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Sept. 15th, Salinas, CA
Today has been an interesting day. I didn't really do much this morning, except drive around and order 70 dollars worth of pizza. I was the speaker for a whole youth group tonight, middle and high school students...hence the abundance of pizza. It went really well, they were an awesome group and had so many questions, it was refreshing to see their interest and their energy. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It amazes me at my comfort level of talking to larger groups of people. Those who know me well, know that I don't particularly like to speak for large groups or be the sole form of entertainment for a group. I don't mind making jokes and being part of the hub bub of whatever is happening, in fact I love that, but I'm not a front stage kind of girl. Tonight was natural and comfortable as can be, amazing how the Lord works you know.
Another high light of my night was coming back and having a commercial on tv reference the powerful skills of the black mamba. I have this obsession with green mambas which stemmed from the book "The Poisonwood Bible," that I read a long time ago. Like 3-4 years ago anyway, amazing book, I highly recommend it to any reading fanatics.
And the second high light of my night after the youth group event was the commercial on the channel USA, with the actors stating "I am a character because..." Well, Gus from Psych states "I am a Christian." I just think that's awesome, because he's funny. And I like funny people.
If you're picturing Salinas as this exotic beautiful city near the sea, don't. Stop that train of thought immediately because it is far from it. It is a blah city, some low grade shopping places, a really scary mall and mostly fast food. The city is surrounded by fields that are being harvested right now, mostly greens. Those areas are beautiful. I wanted to stop earlier they have the big machines pulled up and people are lining the rows picking and sorting, with wide brimmed hats on, sleeves rolled up...it really was a beautiful moment to past. It also shows the hard work so many people put into even the simpliest thing, such as lettuce. I've had lettuce three times today, I wonder what field it came from.
Gross moment of the day. I drove through Wendy's after speaking tonight to get something for dinner and I got water, a side salad and a grilled chicken sandwich which I promptly disassembled and ate without the bun. The gross moment is when i took a drink of the water and it tasted slightly like fries. Gross right! Fry water. Now thats just wrong. So very very wrong. Starting tomorrow I do believe I'll be in a much prettier area, so hopefully some pics will come. Didn't take any today. I'm staying at an awesome hotel tomorrow, which I'll disclose after I stay there....call me paranoid, but I dislike writing where I am before I'm there, its just too weird to have on the world wide web. However after leaving it tomorrow, I'm excited for what I'll have seen. The room is suppose to be pretty sweet.
Good night!
Another high light of my night was coming back and having a commercial on tv reference the powerful skills of the black mamba. I have this obsession with green mambas which stemmed from the book "The Poisonwood Bible," that I read a long time ago. Like 3-4 years ago anyway, amazing book, I highly recommend it to any reading fanatics.
And the second high light of my night after the youth group event was the commercial on the channel USA, with the actors stating "I am a character because..." Well, Gus from Psych states "I am a Christian." I just think that's awesome, because he's funny. And I like funny people.
If you're picturing Salinas as this exotic beautiful city near the sea, don't. Stop that train of thought immediately because it is far from it. It is a blah city, some low grade shopping places, a really scary mall and mostly fast food. The city is surrounded by fields that are being harvested right now, mostly greens. Those areas are beautiful. I wanted to stop earlier they have the big machines pulled up and people are lining the rows picking and sorting, with wide brimmed hats on, sleeves rolled up...it really was a beautiful moment to past. It also shows the hard work so many people put into even the simpliest thing, such as lettuce. I've had lettuce three times today, I wonder what field it came from.
Gross moment of the day. I drove through Wendy's after speaking tonight to get something for dinner and I got water, a side salad and a grilled chicken sandwich which I promptly disassembled and ate without the bun. The gross moment is when i took a drink of the water and it tasted slightly like fries. Gross right! Fry water. Now thats just wrong. So very very wrong. Starting tomorrow I do believe I'll be in a much prettier area, so hopefully some pics will come. Didn't take any today. I'm staying at an awesome hotel tomorrow, which I'll disclose after I stay there....call me paranoid, but I dislike writing where I am before I'm there, its just too weird to have on the world wide web. However after leaving it tomorrow, I'm excited for what I'll have seen. The room is suppose to be pretty sweet.
Good night!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sept. 14th, Watsonville, CA
Last night after the fair in San Jose I drove the long, windy and bumpy highway to Watsonville, California. I put my glasses I wear for night time to great use, in fact, I challenged them to their brink...that's how crazy that highway was.
Yesterday while I was cruising the internet and posting yesterdays blog I was sitting back in this plush leather chair at a Borders Cafe and minding my own business when I man walks up and loudly starts asking me if my sister works at the cafe down the street. I tell him I'm not from here and continue on my work, however, he proceeds to stand there in this dead silent cafe, people busily typing or concentrating on their book at hand, me if he can have my number so he can show me around town whenever I"m there.... Yeah, I politely declined. Promise it didn't have anything to do with his braided beard that was probably around 5-7 inches in length, or the smell of smoke surrounding his presence....haha.
Last night, this is a random side note, I proceeded to talk to someone and kept sounding like I was some Canadian. My tone was very accent filled, which is funny since I don't have an accent... I don't know how this happens. Another random side note, I love Covert Affairs and am watching the season finale right now, I'm sad its going to be over. I've also decided that the indian dude in it is very attractive, very very attractive. I'm just full of these random side notes.I also want to see the move You Again solely because they use the term best frenemies.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Some people should be fired from making commercials. Some are a mockery to America's intelligence, as well as just irritating....that's all I got for tonight. But I am posting some pics from today.
Yesterday while I was cruising the internet and posting yesterdays blog I was sitting back in this plush leather chair at a Borders Cafe and minding my own business when I man walks up and loudly starts asking me if my sister works at the cafe down the street. I tell him I'm not from here and continue on my work, however, he proceeds to stand there in this dead silent cafe, people busily typing or concentrating on their book at hand, me if he can have my number so he can show me around town whenever I"m there.... Yeah, I politely declined. Promise it didn't have anything to do with his braided beard that was probably around 5-7 inches in length, or the smell of smoke surrounding his presence....haha.
Last night, this is a random side note, I proceeded to talk to someone and kept sounding like I was some Canadian. My tone was very accent filled, which is funny since I don't have an accent... I don't know how this happens. Another random side note, I love Covert Affairs and am watching the season finale right now, I'm sad its going to be over. I've also decided that the indian dude in it is very attractive, very very attractive. I'm just full of these random side notes.I also want to see the move You Again solely because they use the term best frenemies.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Monday, September 13, 2010
Sept. 12th....still San Jose, soon to be Watsonville
I shouldn't have had that caffeine as late as I did last night because I had a hard time falling asleep. In college I could down 3-4 coffees in a single day and not even notice a difference in my energy. Now, at the ripe old age of 24 if I don't have a coffee in the morning I have the noon headache, aka, withdrawl, and if I have coffee after 4pm I have the "I cant sleep" lets have a dance party and then clean the whole house jitters. I love that my comparison actually makes it sound like I take meth. Does anyone remember the commercials they played years ago for met? The music was always "ooooo.meth......meth." Kendra and I thought that was the best commercial ever and we would often sing the background music to each other, perhaps a morbid sense of humor but funny you have to admit.
My school visits went well today. Even with a GPS I still miss turns here and there, and today when I missed a turn I ended up in front of PF Changs, Nordstrom Rack and a Starbucks...seriously.....this is not a joke. I think God looked down on me and thought "Casey words hard, lets put her in heaven." Did I go into Nordstrom rack and spend too much money- the answer is YES! And I loved every minute of it. But really, it was cold here today- unexpectedly cold so I have black legging type pants (which I've been looking for a replacement and found, in the same brand, at Nordstroms today) and I hated my outfit and felt uncomfortable. So I bought a shirt on sale and then 40% more off, real cute and professional too and I changed in the parkng lot before a school visit.
Sometimes a good sale can really make up for stinky fart plane rides. Sometimes, life really can be fixed by a pair of cute jeans with flip embellished pockets that fit just perfect.
One thing I do love about the bay area is the high ratio of different ethnicities. I spoke with an asian man having trouble with his internet on his laptop and a french african man who also helped the asian man. Accents and other cultures are just so interesting, I love the diverstiy.
I don't have much to report, nothing funny has happened so far today. But I do have a college fair tonight, so the possibilities are really endless. I did take a picture of my rental car to prove how bright and red it really is but will post that later. Much like last year I hope to get some great photos taken and I'll try to put them up as I go. There is some really beautiful land out here.
Thoughts of the day-
1. Why are the majority of books red or yellow in the reference and education section? Yield and stop, I'm not in a car driving so I'd like to see some more colors please.
2. Why does the lady working at the Borders Cafe have a side mullet and do you think she did it herself? I don't even understand how this is possible, but she has a side mullet and there is no other description that would fit her unsightly hair style.
My school visits went well today. Even with a GPS I still miss turns here and there, and today when I missed a turn I ended up in front of PF Changs, Nordstrom Rack and a Starbucks...seriously.....this is not a joke. I think God looked down on me and thought "Casey words hard, lets put her in heaven." Did I go into Nordstrom rack and spend too much money- the answer is YES! And I loved every minute of it. But really, it was cold here today- unexpectedly cold so I have black legging type pants (which I've been looking for a replacement and found, in the same brand, at Nordstroms today) and I hated my outfit and felt uncomfortable. So I bought a shirt on sale and then 40% more off, real cute and professional too and I changed in the parkng lot before a school visit.
Sometimes a good sale can really make up for stinky fart plane rides. Sometimes, life really can be fixed by a pair of cute jeans with flip embellished pockets that fit just perfect.
One thing I do love about the bay area is the high ratio of different ethnicities. I spoke with an asian man having trouble with his internet on his laptop and a french african man who also helped the asian man. Accents and other cultures are just so interesting, I love the diverstiy.
I don't have much to report, nothing funny has happened so far today. But I do have a college fair tonight, so the possibilities are really endless. I did take a picture of my rental car to prove how bright and red it really is but will post that later. Much like last year I hope to get some great photos taken and I'll try to put them up as I go. There is some really beautiful land out here.
Thoughts of the day-
1. Why are the majority of books red or yellow in the reference and education section? Yield and stop, I'm not in a car driving so I'd like to see some more colors please.
2. Why does the lady working at the Borders Cafe have a side mullet and do you think she did it herself? I don't even understand how this is possible, but she has a side mullet and there is no other description that would fit her unsightly hair style.
Sept 11th, San Jose, CA
Today marks the start of another travel season, my third to date.
I'm glad I don't believe in the belief that how the start of a trip goes tailors how the trip as a whole goes because last year and this year have not started all that great. I had a great drive with Kirrin to the airport, and all that went well, but then it started downhill with my luggage weighing 5 lbs too much...translation- I must donate my kidney to pay for the bag. I had literature in there, otherwise I would've unloaded it, there was just no where to unload it. So okay, that's not so terrible, and I ended up having a great chat with the man who was throwing away my shampoo and conditioner for being .6 oz too much. He said "I can read people pretty well, probably because I've had so many jobs over the years (he was an older gentleman), but I can tell you're intelligent and have a high IQ. I bet you're pretty good at science too, and very detail oriented." SO funny! Well, thank you Mr. security man taking away my mode of cleanliness, I'm glad you find me an intelligent individual. :o) It was pretty funny, I couldn't even be bad that security took me 15 minutes while they scanned my bag three times.
So next, I get on the plane, near the front, thank goodness, on last and off first. I sat next to a lovely older woman who was on the larger size and took part of my seat up, and by lovely I mean a real grouch who could throw down a beer. I figured, well,it's chilly, her body warmth will keep me warmer so really she's doing me a favor. The bad part was the gas that persisted for the entire plane ride. It was teenage boy who ate muchas gracias for a straight week bad, except in a older woman form. To give you a mental picture it was so terrible that I literally had to stick my face into my book to breathe at some points. I've literally never been near such an unforeseen smelll that so violently attempted to take refuge in my nostrils. I put up a strong fight, but I fear the stank won this time.
Things have been better now. I made it to my hotel, which they gave me a warm cookie as a welcome gift, I have a pretty sweet rental car, cherry red hatchback of some form. Should be easy to find in a parking lot, or a black out. I'm at the Double Tree in San Jose tonight. Is it a sad fact or a fact that shows how easily pleased I am that I was so excited that the bathroom supplies they provide are Neutrogena? I love Neutrogena!
I've thought ahead for this year as how to make this travel season seem more like a vacation. i've purchased room spray to spray in every hotel for a fresh scent, masking the hotel goers before me. I've also purchased a Burts Bees pamper kit, just some odds and ends to make life to feel more luxurious.
Tomorrow starts off with a bang with school visits, a college fair and then a drive to a town about an hour away afterwards. The part of town I'm in is very near the airport and not too trafficy, however, getting into a larger city I get this itch to leave as soon as possible. It's not even that I hate large cities, but I hate large cities while I'm working, they add this whole other stress to the day. Large cities for vacation or hanging out are a blast though, don't get me wrong. And David, I'm not dissing your hometown, the parts I've seen are actually pretty lovely- for the most part. Haha. But I can't wait to get out and get into my comfort zone, those smaller towns between fresno and ventura, both off I-5 and the coastal highway.
To get dessert or not to get dessert....this is the question. Tomorrow I start a diet with Andrea, would've started today but its a little difficult to choose what foods while driving.
Okay, well I'll post this tomorrow, it costs to use internet in this hotel and that's just not worth it to me. Later!
I'm glad I don't believe in the belief that how the start of a trip goes tailors how the trip as a whole goes because last year and this year have not started all that great. I had a great drive with Kirrin to the airport, and all that went well, but then it started downhill with my luggage weighing 5 lbs too much...translation- I must donate my kidney to pay for the bag. I had literature in there, otherwise I would've unloaded it, there was just no where to unload it. So okay, that's not so terrible, and I ended up having a great chat with the man who was throwing away my shampoo and conditioner for being .6 oz too much. He said "I can read people pretty well, probably because I've had so many jobs over the years (he was an older gentleman), but I can tell you're intelligent and have a high IQ. I bet you're pretty good at science too, and very detail oriented." SO funny! Well, thank you Mr. security man taking away my mode of cleanliness, I'm glad you find me an intelligent individual. :o) It was pretty funny, I couldn't even be bad that security took me 15 minutes while they scanned my bag three times.
So next, I get on the plane, near the front, thank goodness, on last and off first. I sat next to a lovely older woman who was on the larger size and took part of my seat up, and by lovely I mean a real grouch who could throw down a beer. I figured, well,it's chilly, her body warmth will keep me warmer so really she's doing me a favor. The bad part was the gas that persisted for the entire plane ride. It was teenage boy who ate muchas gracias for a straight week bad, except in a older woman form. To give you a mental picture it was so terrible that I literally had to stick my face into my book to breathe at some points. I've literally never been near such an unforeseen smelll that so violently attempted to take refuge in my nostrils. I put up a strong fight, but I fear the stank won this time.
Things have been better now. I made it to my hotel, which they gave me a warm cookie as a welcome gift, I have a pretty sweet rental car, cherry red hatchback of some form. Should be easy to find in a parking lot, or a black out. I'm at the Double Tree in San Jose tonight. Is it a sad fact or a fact that shows how easily pleased I am that I was so excited that the bathroom supplies they provide are Neutrogena? I love Neutrogena!
I've thought ahead for this year as how to make this travel season seem more like a vacation. i've purchased room spray to spray in every hotel for a fresh scent, masking the hotel goers before me. I've also purchased a Burts Bees pamper kit, just some odds and ends to make life to feel more luxurious.
Tomorrow starts off with a bang with school visits, a college fair and then a drive to a town about an hour away afterwards. The part of town I'm in is very near the airport and not too trafficy, however, getting into a larger city I get this itch to leave as soon as possible. It's not even that I hate large cities, but I hate large cities while I'm working, they add this whole other stress to the day. Large cities for vacation or hanging out are a blast though, don't get me wrong. And David, I'm not dissing your hometown, the parts I've seen are actually pretty lovely- for the most part. Haha. But I can't wait to get out and get into my comfort zone, those smaller towns between fresno and ventura, both off I-5 and the coastal highway.
To get dessert or not to get dessert....this is the question. Tomorrow I start a diet with Andrea, would've started today but its a little difficult to choose what foods while driving.
Okay, well I'll post this tomorrow, it costs to use internet in this hotel and that's just not worth it to me. Later!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Life, so good of you to stop by
So since the last time I decided to grace the vast network known as internet with my subtle yet wise words was after Thanksgiving, much has happened since then. For family and friends who do check this, I have since moved into a new townhouse, have a new roommate, left the country- and returned, been to three states, consumed more guacamole than the average person does in a lifetime and finished approximately ten books. Exciting right? Okay, so many of you have asked how Mexico was, for photos and stories and the likes, so here are a few stories from adventures in Yelapa.
For those who don't know, I went to Mexico in May with two close friends from childhood, Alissa and Donica. We've quite literally been planning on going on some form of a vacation since we were in 4th grade, when our friendships began. If you can imagine me in jean on jean and keds, Kendra tall and lanky, Donica looking exactly the same but with overalls on and Alissa with greased hair from maybe coconut oil sitting around at recess planning this trip you'd probably have a pretty good depiction of what it actually was like. Our grand goal was Hawaii after graduating high school, but for so many who finally hit that age; money, stress and parental authority overruled Hawaii. So we next moved to Plan B, a big vacation after graduating from college, because what's another four years, and then we'd finally be real grown ups with college educations to prove it.
That didn't happen. The difference between starting out college with no money and ending college with no money is that in the beginning you are so unaware of financial responsibility and student loans that it doesn't factor into day to day decisions....after graduating with again no money, that limitation is a bit more well known when your pocket book is empty, your fridge is baren and your gas never hits above half a tank. Apparently being a real grown up is when you realize you don't have endless supplies of money and you have to work full time for a living. Which I'm okay with, I'm just sayin'.
Anyway, we finally took our trip this past May. It took us only 16 years to do it. Speaking for all of us, it was bittersweet to finally jump on that early flight and end up in such a beautiful location. Bitter, because Kendra wasn't with us and I think we all miss her so much everyday that it physically hurts sometimes but sweet because we finally did it and not just for us three but for us four. We completed what was once started in overalls and keds. It was like a living testament to the bonds that can be created between friendships, and it was such a blast!
Wake up. Put swimsuite on. Lay by the ocean. Read book. Swim in ocean. Eat lunch. Lay by the ocean. Read book. Swim in ocean. Eat guacamole and chips. Lay by the ocean. Swim in pool. Change. Sit in room finding things to do with no tv, no internet, no games and basically no lights.
That paragraph summed up our daily activities. We literally laid oceanside all week. I read two and a half books while in Mexico, because that is how little we did activity wise. Alissa did get stung by a jellyfish, and we did scavenge for fresh mango's falling from tree limbs. I might have occasionally hunted down insects and taken photos of them, slightly terrified of being bitten but too enamored to care. Donica read a book for the first time in years. Oh, and we did the daily scoop the rocks out of our swimsuite action multiple times a day. The beach wasn't smooth and soft, it was pebbles and hurt. Getting stuck in the waves caused little pebbles to fill our swimsuites so it felt like walking around with a full diaper on. I actually just found a few pebbles in a swimsuite top last week, sorry mom, for dropping them throughout your house. :o)
I'm going to post a few pics, because the pretty much does sum it all up. Relaxing!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)