Ezekial
Melchizidek
Coots
Gestapo
Hector
Nathan
Brian
Jeff
Dave
Steve
Ken
Don
Your mom
Jene
Clint
Big Boy C
Cuz
Just a sampling. People have actually suggested all of these.... So, sorry if your name's on the list....
11.28.2004
10.21.2004
It's a......
BOY!
We're so excited. Of course, now I'll have to either explain to Clint why we're not naming him Clint, or lie and say that we are!
Just got Barbara's vote for John (also a no, there are entirely too many Johns in my family already), and a vote for Ezekial from a guy at work, and a vote for Gabriel from Gabrielle. My brother is currently trying to teach my niece Zoe to call him Little Fellow.
But you'll never find out until he's here! It's a secret.
See you all later, we're off to Pismo Beach!
We're so excited. Of course, now I'll have to either explain to Clint why we're not naming him Clint, or lie and say that we are!
Just got Barbara's vote for John (also a no, there are entirely too many Johns in my family already), and a vote for Ezekial from a guy at work, and a vote for Gabriel from Gabrielle. My brother is currently trying to teach my niece Zoe to call him Little Fellow.
But you'll never find out until he's here! It's a secret.
See you all later, we're off to Pismo Beach!
10.11.2004
The Happiest Place on Earth
Today someone at work said something about the Tiki Room. And it reminded me. I've been to Disneyland hundreds of times and so I have a lot of good memories of the place (and some bad: grad night was a total nightmare). But today I was reminded of probably the most fun time I ever had at The Land.
I was eighteen and in the middle of my first year of college when my friend Tim and I decided to spend a day at Disneyland. It was the middle of the week, so it was pretty deserted there anyway, and the overcast January skies weren't attracting any crowds, either. This was in the days before California Adventure so we could still park close to the gates and walk in instead of waiting for a tram for 15 minutes. Once inside, we began making all the rounds to the best rides, waiting 5 minutes at the most. Somewhere in the middle of the morning it began to rain, and then it began to rain pretty hard, but we didn't care. We found a forgotten umbrella on Space Tours and used it for a while, then ditched it when we realized we were getting just as wet as we would be without it. At Space Mountain we discovered that the flooring in line was slippery when wet. The lines were totally clear, and with a good running start we could slide all the way down the ramps. Line surfing!
We took refuge in the afternoon inside the Tiki Room. I hadn't been in since I was about four. We were two of only about six people in there, and I couldn't understand half of what the animatronic birds were saying. At about four o'clock Tomorrow Land closed due to flooding and the whole park was under about a foot of water. Then at six they finally gave up and closed the park altogether. Tim and I had long since given up any pretense of trying to be dry and were happily jumping into the deepest pools of water. We slogged arm in arm down Main Street toward the exit in water up to our knees, waving at all the people who were riding out on the trolley. They were laughing at us and snapping pictures, and I'm sure they now all tell their friends about the "crazy Americans" they saw acting like lunatics in the rain!
Back at the car Tim dug out an Army blanket for us to wrap up in, and we stopped at a Taco Bell on the way home for food. They treated us like we were refugees! The workers turned up the heat for us and were very concerned for our health. We couldn't stop laughing.
Happiest place on Earth? Maybe that day it was.
I was eighteen and in the middle of my first year of college when my friend Tim and I decided to spend a day at Disneyland. It was the middle of the week, so it was pretty deserted there anyway, and the overcast January skies weren't attracting any crowds, either. This was in the days before California Adventure so we could still park close to the gates and walk in instead of waiting for a tram for 15 minutes. Once inside, we began making all the rounds to the best rides, waiting 5 minutes at the most. Somewhere in the middle of the morning it began to rain, and then it began to rain pretty hard, but we didn't care. We found a forgotten umbrella on Space Tours and used it for a while, then ditched it when we realized we were getting just as wet as we would be without it. At Space Mountain we discovered that the flooring in line was slippery when wet. The lines were totally clear, and with a good running start we could slide all the way down the ramps. Line surfing!
We took refuge in the afternoon inside the Tiki Room. I hadn't been in since I was about four. We were two of only about six people in there, and I couldn't understand half of what the animatronic birds were saying. At about four o'clock Tomorrow Land closed due to flooding and the whole park was under about a foot of water. Then at six they finally gave up and closed the park altogether. Tim and I had long since given up any pretense of trying to be dry and were happily jumping into the deepest pools of water. We slogged arm in arm down Main Street toward the exit in water up to our knees, waving at all the people who were riding out on the trolley. They were laughing at us and snapping pictures, and I'm sure they now all tell their friends about the "crazy Americans" they saw acting like lunatics in the rain!
Back at the car Tim dug out an Army blanket for us to wrap up in, and we stopped at a Taco Bell on the way home for food. They treated us like we were refugees! The workers turned up the heat for us and were very concerned for our health. We couldn't stop laughing.
Happiest place on Earth? Maybe that day it was.
10.10.2004
Yes, I'm still alive
Poor readers, did you think I had left you? Are you even still here? I apologize for the unforgivably long absence! Please forgive me. Again. I have a really really good reason this time, I promise! It's because.....I have seen the future.....and it wears tiny hats and diapers. But not yet. Right now it just makes me sick and moody. Yes, there is a baby on the way! It's due March 13th, and I've just begun to feel better after months of nausea and exhaustion. Needless to say, we're so excited! We get to find out if it's a boy or a girl on the 19th of this month, and I can't wait to stop referring to it as "it." How rude! I'll keep you all posted on the details (because I'm sure you want to know). So far it's been an interesting experience, and I don't regret a thing and I'm so happy. But I will admit that a glass of merlot would be really nice....
So anyway...haven't done a whole lot since China, for reasons listed above. Mostly I've been lying around enduring the heat. I'm so glad it's finally cooled down! We're getting ready for our annual camping trip to Pismo Beach in about a week and a half. It will be nice to get away for a few days.
Went to my 10 year class reunion last night. What a trip. There were only about four people that I wanted to see, and I got to see three of them. The fourth, Elisa, is forever lost to me, I suppose. I can't find her anywhere. But I got to see the other three, and two of them were an absolute delight. The third was one of those disappointing experiences where you find that one of your best friends has become a stranger to you because of too much elapsed time and too few common experiences. Sad, but I know it happens. It was interesting to see what had become of my classmates. Some things were expected, some a total surprise. A couple of the guys had returned recently from Iraq, some people are in full time ministry, some are in medicine, some have done well in their own businesses. Everyone seemed so happy and successful!
But of course, that's the only kind of person you see at a reunion, right?
So anyway...haven't done a whole lot since China, for reasons listed above. Mostly I've been lying around enduring the heat. I'm so glad it's finally cooled down! We're getting ready for our annual camping trip to Pismo Beach in about a week and a half. It will be nice to get away for a few days.
Went to my 10 year class reunion last night. What a trip. There were only about four people that I wanted to see, and I got to see three of them. The fourth, Elisa, is forever lost to me, I suppose. I can't find her anywhere. But I got to see the other three, and two of them were an absolute delight. The third was one of those disappointing experiences where you find that one of your best friends has become a stranger to you because of too much elapsed time and too few common experiences. Sad, but I know it happens. It was interesting to see what had become of my classmates. Some things were expected, some a total surprise. A couple of the guys had returned recently from Iraq, some people are in full time ministry, some are in medicine, some have done well in their own businesses. Everyone seemed so happy and successful!
But of course, that's the only kind of person you see at a reunion, right?
6.20.2004
Home again
It feels strange. I feel like so much has happened in the last two and a half weeks and I'm a different person, and yet, I came home and nothing here has changed. It's all the same. Weird.
China and Thailand were great, as expected. The area where Tom and Sue live in China is very different from what it was when I was there three years ago. They live in a new apartment complex now, and it looks less like the China I'd known and expected and more like the Irvine and Newport I see all the time. Their apartment is WAY nicer than ours, and they pay about a quarter of what we pay. Location is everything, I guess.
Thailand was just as gorgeous as I remembered, so green and humid and beautiful. And the island we stayed on! I'd never been there before, and it looks like something Hollywood invented. It's insane! Water so clear you easily see the bottom 20 feet below, islands jutting straight out of the water with no beach at all, just sheer cliffs, beaches with sand white enough to blind you at first sight. And enough cheap, tacky souvenirs to fill a suitcase. We had a contest going to see who could buy the worst souvenir, and out of all the junk in Thailand Nathan and I acutally picked up the same thing! When we revealed our purchases on the last day, we all about died laughing.
Seeing Tom and Sue and Thomas was definitely the highlight. Thomas was with us the whole time, and I loved hanging out with him and seeing the person he's become. He's so thoughtful and intelligent and fun. It hardly seems possible that he's graduated from highschool! And what's even more impossible is that as we left the airport in Kunming there was a girl crying and breaking her heart over him. Is he really that old? I can't believe it...
We got home late last night. Without our luggage. It's in San Francisco. Seeing the sights, I assume. Babs, would you mind picking it up for us? Just kidding. We'll hopefully see it tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, I'm off to bed. Don't know how I'll sleep, I'm totally jet lagged. But I guess I'd better try. Until next time!
China and Thailand were great, as expected. The area where Tom and Sue live in China is very different from what it was when I was there three years ago. They live in a new apartment complex now, and it looks less like the China I'd known and expected and more like the Irvine and Newport I see all the time. Their apartment is WAY nicer than ours, and they pay about a quarter of what we pay. Location is everything, I guess.
Thailand was just as gorgeous as I remembered, so green and humid and beautiful. And the island we stayed on! I'd never been there before, and it looks like something Hollywood invented. It's insane! Water so clear you easily see the bottom 20 feet below, islands jutting straight out of the water with no beach at all, just sheer cliffs, beaches with sand white enough to blind you at first sight. And enough cheap, tacky souvenirs to fill a suitcase. We had a contest going to see who could buy the worst souvenir, and out of all the junk in Thailand Nathan and I acutally picked up the same thing! When we revealed our purchases on the last day, we all about died laughing.
Seeing Tom and Sue and Thomas was definitely the highlight. Thomas was with us the whole time, and I loved hanging out with him and seeing the person he's become. He's so thoughtful and intelligent and fun. It hardly seems possible that he's graduated from highschool! And what's even more impossible is that as we left the airport in Kunming there was a girl crying and breaking her heart over him. Is he really that old? I can't believe it...
We got home late last night. Without our luggage. It's in San Francisco. Seeing the sights, I assume. Babs, would you mind picking it up for us? Just kidding. We'll hopefully see it tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, I'm off to bed. Don't know how I'll sleep, I'm totally jet lagged. But I guess I'd better try. Until next time!
5.31.2004
My brain color
Quiz stolen from Barbara's blog. Thanks Babs!
What Color is Your Brain?
brought to you by Quizilla
At work or in school: I like to be with people, sharing with them, inspiring them, and helping them. I work and learn best when I can take into consideration people and the human element. I flourish in an atmosphere of cooperation.
With friends: I always look for perfect love. I am very romantic, and I enjoy doing thoughtful things for others. I am affectionate, supportive and a good listener.
With family: I like to be happy and loving. I am very sensitive to rejection from my family and to family conflicts. I really like to be well thought of and need frequent reassurance. I love intimate talks and warm feelings.
What Color is Your Brain?
brought to you by Quizilla
At work or in school: I like to be with people, sharing with them, inspiring them, and helping them. I work and learn best when I can take into consideration people and the human element. I flourish in an atmosphere of cooperation.
With friends: I always look for perfect love. I am very romantic, and I enjoy doing thoughtful things for others. I am affectionate, supportive and a good listener.
With family: I like to be happy and loving. I am very sensitive to rejection from my family and to family conflicts. I really like to be well thought of and need frequent reassurance. I love intimate talks and warm feelings.
Excuses, excuses
Sorry, sorry guys. Haven't been here in a while. I was discouraged from blogging recently by the word wrap situation, which apparently is still a problem. It's killing me. It's retarded. I can't figure out how to fix it, the only thing I can think of is to change my template. And I really don't want to. One, because I really like this one, and two, because I don't have time right now to sit around and figure out how to change it and then work out all the bugs that come with the change.
Secondly, I haven't posted lately because things have just gotten out of hand busy. I think we've had something to do every night for about three weeks. This last weekend alone went like this: Wedding rehearsal Friday night for Joy. Shower Saturday morning for Joy. Birthday party Saturday afternoon/evening for Zoe. Bryon and Joy's wedding Sunday morning/afternoon/evening. Monday morning figuring out my iPod with Jeff and downloading CDs. Then birthday party for Nathan and me tonight. And now we're doing laundry. It's been quite the weekend. And we leave for China Thursday!!! Yay!!!
So, I'm still out here. I'm just drowning in details! And if there's anything I hate, it's details. I need a weekend to recover from this weekend. I will try to post something more interesting tomorrow, but for right now I'm out. I'm going to read Barbara's blog, which I've been neglecting lately.
Toodles!
Secondly, I haven't posted lately because things have just gotten out of hand busy. I think we've had something to do every night for about three weeks. This last weekend alone went like this: Wedding rehearsal Friday night for Joy. Shower Saturday morning for Joy. Birthday party Saturday afternoon/evening for Zoe. Bryon and Joy's wedding Sunday morning/afternoon/evening. Monday morning figuring out my iPod with Jeff and downloading CDs. Then birthday party for Nathan and me tonight. And now we're doing laundry. It's been quite the weekend. And we leave for China Thursday!!! Yay!!!
So, I'm still out here. I'm just drowning in details! And if there's anything I hate, it's details. I need a weekend to recover from this weekend. I will try to post something more interesting tomorrow, but for right now I'm out. I'm going to read Barbara's blog, which I've been neglecting lately.
Toodles!
5.12.2004
My growing readership!
Fanfare, please.
Are you ready? I now have THREE READERS that I know of! Here they are:
1. Barbara
2. Jude (maybe...are you still here, Jude? Hey Jude....)
3. Arpie (Ta da! My newest reader!)
I'm so excited! And I've never even met Arpie! But Nathan says she's cool, so she
must be. Plus, her friend has a really cool art display up at Plush right now. I'd
tell the other two of you to go check it out, but it wouldn't do much good since one
of you is in Redwood City and the other is in Wales. Whatever, you two. Guess the
OC just wasn't good enough for you. :P
Okay, that's quite enough writing for the night. See you all later!
Are you ready? I now have THREE READERS that I know of! Here they are:
1. Barbara
2. Jude (maybe...are you still here, Jude? Hey Jude....)
3. Arpie (Ta da! My newest reader!)
I'm so excited! And I've never even met Arpie! But Nathan says she's cool, so she
must be. Plus, her friend has a really cool art display up at Plush right now. I'd
tell the other two of you to go check it out, but it wouldn't do much good since one
of you is in Redwood City and the other is in Wales. Whatever, you two. Guess the
OC just wasn't good enough for you. :P
Okay, that's quite enough writing for the night. See you all later!
Quiz thingy
My friend Alyssa at work is the trivia queen. So every once in a while she starts a
competition for us and passes out quizzes every day for about a month. Today's was
right up my alley. So I'm posting it! It's titled "Do great books make great movies?"
The rule is that you can find your answers anywhere you want, except on the internet.
Have fun! Oh, and also: I don't have the answers. But when I get them, I'll post them!
1. The Lord of the Rings film trilogy took director Peter Jackson seven years to
complete. How long did it take writer J. R. R. Tolkien to complete the books?
a. One year
b. Three years
c. The exact same amount of time it took to make the movies: seven years
d. Over ten years
2. In the 1994 film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, Winona Ryder
played Jo March. Who played Jo in the 1933 version of the film?
a. Bette Davis
b. Katharine Hepburn
c. Judy Garland
d. Joan Crawford
3. Which award-winning war film was based on Joseph Conrad's book Heart of Darkness?
a. The Bridge on the River Kwai
b. The Great Escape
c. Apocalypse Now
d. The Deer Hunter
4. There have been several movie versions of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Which of the
following actors has not played the role of Hamlet in a movie?
a. Richard Burton
b. Kenneth Branagh
c. Sir John Gielgud
d. Laurence Olivier
5. Clueless, the 1995 film starring Alicia Silverstone as the teenage heroine Cher,
is based on which classic novel?
a. Sense and Sensibility
b. Emma
c. Great Expectations
d. My Antonia
6. Which actor made his motion-picture debut as the reclusive Boo Radley in the
1962 film of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird? (Tequila Mockingbird?)
a. Sam Shepard
b. Warren Beatty
c. Robert Duvall
d. Gregory Peck
7. Nicole Kidman won an Academy Award for her role as Virginia Woolf in The Hours,
which was based on Michael Cunningham's 1999 Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the
same name. Which of Virginia Woolf's works was central to the story?
a. A Room of One's Own
b. To the Lighthouse
c. Mrs. Dalloway
d. The Waves
8. Although the name of Harry's owl is used in the book Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer's Stone, it is not mentioned in the movie version. What is the owl's name?
a. Harold
b. Hugo
c. Hedwig
d. Hootie
9. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest won 5 Academy Awards, including best actory, best
actress, best director, and best picture. How did Ken Kesey, who wrote the 1962
novel, react to the movie?
a. He loved it
b. He thought it was OK
c. He hated it
d. He laughed, he cried -- it was better than Cats
10. When Rhett Butler declared "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn!" in Gone With
the Wind, he uttered one of the most famous lines in movie history. In the book, the
line was slightly different. What was it?
a. "My dear, I don't give a damn!"
b. "Frankly, I don't give a damn!"
c. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a darn!"
d. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a hill o' beans!"
competition for us and passes out quizzes every day for about a month. Today's was
right up my alley. So I'm posting it! It's titled "Do great books make great movies?"
The rule is that you can find your answers anywhere you want, except on the internet.
Have fun! Oh, and also: I don't have the answers. But when I get them, I'll post them!
1. The Lord of the Rings film trilogy took director Peter Jackson seven years to
complete. How long did it take writer J. R. R. Tolkien to complete the books?
a. One year
b. Three years
c. The exact same amount of time it took to make the movies: seven years
d. Over ten years
2. In the 1994 film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, Winona Ryder
played Jo March. Who played Jo in the 1933 version of the film?
a. Bette Davis
b. Katharine Hepburn
c. Judy Garland
d. Joan Crawford
3. Which award-winning war film was based on Joseph Conrad's book Heart of Darkness?
a. The Bridge on the River Kwai
b. The Great Escape
c. Apocalypse Now
d. The Deer Hunter
4. There have been several movie versions of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Which of the
following actors has not played the role of Hamlet in a movie?
a. Richard Burton
b. Kenneth Branagh
c. Sir John Gielgud
d. Laurence Olivier
5. Clueless, the 1995 film starring Alicia Silverstone as the teenage heroine Cher,
is based on which classic novel?
a. Sense and Sensibility
b. Emma
c. Great Expectations
d. My Antonia
6. Which actor made his motion-picture debut as the reclusive Boo Radley in the
1962 film of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird? (Tequila Mockingbird?)
a. Sam Shepard
b. Warren Beatty
c. Robert Duvall
d. Gregory Peck
7. Nicole Kidman won an Academy Award for her role as Virginia Woolf in The Hours,
which was based on Michael Cunningham's 1999 Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the
same name. Which of Virginia Woolf's works was central to the story?
a. A Room of One's Own
b. To the Lighthouse
c. Mrs. Dalloway
d. The Waves
8. Although the name of Harry's owl is used in the book Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer's Stone, it is not mentioned in the movie version. What is the owl's name?
a. Harold
b. Hugo
c. Hedwig
d. Hootie
9. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest won 5 Academy Awards, including best actory, best
actress, best director, and best picture. How did Ken Kesey, who wrote the 1962
novel, react to the movie?
a. He loved it
b. He thought it was OK
c. He hated it
d. He laughed, he cried -- it was better than Cats
10. When Rhett Butler declared "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn!" in Gone With
the Wind, he uttered one of the most famous lines in movie history. In the book, the
line was slightly different. What was it?
a. "My dear, I don't give a damn!"
b. "Frankly, I don't give a damn!"
c. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a darn!"
d. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a hill o' beans!"
Frustrated!
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS THING!?!? Since they reformatted blogger, I don't have word wrap!
It just keeps typing on and on in one big line unless I hit return. What is that
about? I feel like I'm using a typewriter!! AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!! I'll have to ask
Babs how to fix it.....
It just keeps typing on and on in one big line unless I hit return. What is that
about? I feel like I'm using a typewriter!! AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!! I'll have to ask
Babs how to fix it.....
5.06.2004
Hymn for a Wednesday (or Thursday...)
Choir tonight. Or last night. Or whatever. The stupid Old Navy site has kicked me out twice now while I was trying to order a shirt. So I'll try it tomorrow. So I thought I'd come here and post my favorite hymn instead. I've had it since Sunday, but am just now getting around to it. Here you go. Love it like I love it!
Safe in the shadow
Safe in the shadow of the Lord
Beneath his hand and power,
I trust in him, I trust in him,
My fortress and my tower.
My hope is set on God alone
Though Satan spreads his snare;
I trust in him, I trust in him,
To keep me in his care.
From fears and phantoms of the night,
From foes about my way,
I trust in him, I trust in him
By darkness as by day.
His holy angels keep my feet
Secure from every stone;
I trust in him, I trust in him,
And unafraid go on.
Strong in the everlasting name,
And in my Father's care,
I trust in him, I trust in him
Who hears and answers prayer.
Safe in the shadow of the Lord,
Possessed by love divine,
I trust in him, I trust in him
And meet his love with mine.
Safe in the shadow
Safe in the shadow of the Lord
Beneath his hand and power,
I trust in him, I trust in him,
My fortress and my tower.
My hope is set on God alone
Though Satan spreads his snare;
I trust in him, I trust in him,
To keep me in his care.
From fears and phantoms of the night,
From foes about my way,
I trust in him, I trust in him
By darkness as by day.
His holy angels keep my feet
Secure from every stone;
I trust in him, I trust in him,
And unafraid go on.
Strong in the everlasting name,
And in my Father's care,
I trust in him, I trust in him
Who hears and answers prayer.
Safe in the shadow of the Lord,
Possessed by love divine,
I trust in him, I trust in him
And meet his love with mine.
4.29.2004
Time Warp
Yesterday afternoon Dave called me at work to see if I wanted to go to a Rotary Club banquet with him. Since I love hanging out with my brothers, I of course said yes and happily ditched choir practice to join him. The banquet was particularly interesting to me because it was held at my old highschool in honor of the top ten students in each grade. It turned out to be a lot of fun. Some of the highlights of my evening:
The introduction: The Rotary Club president introduced me to the entire crowd of about 200 as Dave's wife. Dave was quick to correct him.
The job offer: The woman to my left at dinner told me to consider working at Smith Barney with her, should I ever tire of my American Funds job. Where do I apply?
The former teacher: Mr. Biggs. Freshman year history. Suffered at the hands of my friend Gina in a Lolita-esque way when she developed an obvious crush on him our sophomore year. Woke up to find his house covered in tortillas one morning after Gina and Elisa and I got bored one night. Dated Gina for four years beginning the fall after we graduated. Seemed a little embarrassed to see me last night. I wonder why?
The former classmate: Rico. The screw-up of AP English and the boy we all picked on and loved, he now teaches honors English at our lovely alma mater. How did this happen? How did Rico become a grown up with wise and witty things to say about his students? Weird....
The babies that grew up: Among the honorees in the freshman class was a set of twins. I babysat them when they were newborns. I was thirteen. What was their mother thinking? Anyway, they were there looking cool and smart.
And then the icing on the cake came as we were leaving for the night. Dave walked me to my car and then I drove him around to the front of the school to his car. We were talking and laughing about our memories of dear old Whittier Christian. We said goodnight and both drove off. Dave called my cell phone a minute later. I turned my music down so I could hear him as he said, "You know what the best part is? My CD player is playing the same music it was when I drove out of that parking lot 15 years ago." U2, naturally. The Joshua Tree album. I laughed at Dave and thought, "What a weirdo!" We hung up and I turned my radio back up, only to realize.....same story here! The Cure's "Halo." Fell in love with it in highschool. I guess we're both weirdos.....
The introduction: The Rotary Club president introduced me to the entire crowd of about 200 as Dave's wife. Dave was quick to correct him.
The job offer: The woman to my left at dinner told me to consider working at Smith Barney with her, should I ever tire of my American Funds job. Where do I apply?
The former teacher: Mr. Biggs. Freshman year history. Suffered at the hands of my friend Gina in a Lolita-esque way when she developed an obvious crush on him our sophomore year. Woke up to find his house covered in tortillas one morning after Gina and Elisa and I got bored one night. Dated Gina for four years beginning the fall after we graduated. Seemed a little embarrassed to see me last night. I wonder why?
The former classmate: Rico. The screw-up of AP English and the boy we all picked on and loved, he now teaches honors English at our lovely alma mater. How did this happen? How did Rico become a grown up with wise and witty things to say about his students? Weird....
The babies that grew up: Among the honorees in the freshman class was a set of twins. I babysat them when they were newborns. I was thirteen. What was their mother thinking? Anyway, they were there looking cool and smart.
And then the icing on the cake came as we were leaving for the night. Dave walked me to my car and then I drove him around to the front of the school to his car. We were talking and laughing about our memories of dear old Whittier Christian. We said goodnight and both drove off. Dave called my cell phone a minute later. I turned my music down so I could hear him as he said, "You know what the best part is? My CD player is playing the same music it was when I drove out of that parking lot 15 years ago." U2, naturally. The Joshua Tree album. I laughed at Dave and thought, "What a weirdo!" We hung up and I turned my radio back up, only to realize.....same story here! The Cure's "Halo." Fell in love with it in highschool. I guess we're both weirdos.....
Rip-off artist
Hope you don't mind, Barbara! I stole this idea, but figured it would be okay since you practically dared me to do it! For the rest of you invisibles, the idea is to describe yourself by answering the questions using the titles of songs from just one band. Barbara, being the rebel type, changed the rules and used book titles. But I, being a good little girl, will answer using song titles exclusively from the Cure's enormous collection, since I know them the best of any band. But I might go through and see if I can use U2, too....
Are you male or female: "Sugar Girl"
How old are you: "Young American"
Describe yourself: "More Than This"
How do some people feel about you: "A Foolish Arrangement"
How do you feel about yourself: "The Perfect Girl" (Sorry, sorry, you know I'm kidding....)
Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend: "Strange Attraction"
Describe your views on significant others and crushes: "Just Like Heaven"
Describe what you want: "To Wish Impossible Things"
Describe how you live: "The Last Day of Summer"
Describe how you love: "Forever"
Share a few words of wisdom: "Just Say Yes!"
And for the U2 fans out there:
Are you male or female: "Lady with the Spinning Head"
How old are you: "40" (Umm...minus 13....)
Describe yourself: "Helter Skelter"
How do some people feel about you: "Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World"
How do you feel about yourself: "Running to Stand Still"
Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend: "Out of Control"
Describe your views on significant others and crushes: "The Sweetest Thing"
Describe what you want: "All I Want is You"
Describe how you live: "Dancing Barefoot"
Describe how you love: "Into the Heart"
Share a few words of wisdom: "Rejoice!"
Are you male or female: "Sugar Girl"
How old are you: "Young American"
Describe yourself: "More Than This"
How do some people feel about you: "A Foolish Arrangement"
How do you feel about yourself: "The Perfect Girl" (Sorry, sorry, you know I'm kidding....)
Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend: "Strange Attraction"
Describe your views on significant others and crushes: "Just Like Heaven"
Describe what you want: "To Wish Impossible Things"
Describe how you live: "The Last Day of Summer"
Describe how you love: "Forever"
Share a few words of wisdom: "Just Say Yes!"
And for the U2 fans out there:
Are you male or female: "Lady with the Spinning Head"
How old are you: "40" (Umm...minus 13....)
Describe yourself: "Helter Skelter"
How do some people feel about you: "Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World"
How do you feel about yourself: "Running to Stand Still"
Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend: "Out of Control"
Describe your views on significant others and crushes: "The Sweetest Thing"
Describe what you want: "All I Want is You"
Describe how you live: "Dancing Barefoot"
Describe how you love: "Into the Heart"
Share a few words of wisdom: "Rejoice!"
4.27.2004
Found it!
And now for something completely different. I hope. This is probably my most recent poem, which, sadly, is three years old. Time to get back to writing, I think. I used to think that I could only write when I was feeling tortured, but then Paul Buchanan gave me a tip that opened my eyes forever. He said: "Find moments that resonate, and start with that." And THAT has made all the difference. It's a lot harder to write poetry when you're not just spewing emotion everywhere. So hopefully this poem does his teaching the tiniest bit of justice. I like it, because it brings back memories of growing up and summer nights. And the weather the past few days brought it to mind. So here you go.
Is This Heaven?
In your apartment at night
it's 15 degrees hotter than outside:
even with the door and windows open
the air barely moves
& you set a fan humming,
droning lazily in the hall.
Crickets outside sing the dew down
sing the heat up out of the asphalt
rising to your window.
It's shorts and barefoot summer,
iced tea at midnight summer,
too hot to think of moving.
The radio clicks softly as you turn it on
and static breaks the still
before you tune in the game
& Vin Scully's voice -
familiar as your heartbeat,
comforting as night -
the same as it's been forever:
"Piazza's at the plate with two men on base..."
You sink to the couch behind me,
touch my shoulder as I lean back,
& rest your cool glass against my arm.
With my eyes closed I can hear the crack of the bat,
can almost smell the fresh-cut grass...
6/3/01
Is This Heaven?
In your apartment at night
it's 15 degrees hotter than outside:
even with the door and windows open
the air barely moves
& you set a fan humming,
droning lazily in the hall.
Crickets outside sing the dew down
sing the heat up out of the asphalt
rising to your window.
It's shorts and barefoot summer,
iced tea at midnight summer,
too hot to think of moving.
The radio clicks softly as you turn it on
and static breaks the still
before you tune in the game
& Vin Scully's voice -
familiar as your heartbeat,
comforting as night -
the same as it's been forever:
"Piazza's at the plate with two men on base..."
You sink to the couch behind me,
touch my shoulder as I lean back,
& rest your cool glass against my arm.
With my eyes closed I can hear the crack of the bat,
can almost smell the fresh-cut grass...
6/3/01
4.26.2004
Traitor
I think everyone goes through that angsty teenager phase, where everything is so intense and everything matters SO MUCH and nothing will EVER be the same ever again now that your best friend told that one guy that you think he's hot. Right? Yeah. I had it bad. And I swore back then that I'd never laugh at my teenage self, and that I'd remember how it all felt and how utterly horrible all that unrequited love was. I remember creating entire relationships in my head based on one conversation with a guy, and how devastated I was when he started dating someone. And how I just knew I'd never get over it, and never love again.
That being said..... I was cleaning out our second bedroom the other day and ran across my most recent book of poems. So I sat down and read them. Needless to say, most of them are pure trash. I can still feel the sentiment behind them, though, and I see what I was trying to do, so they're still a little to close to my heart to laugh at. But then I pulled out my poems from highschool. Forgive me, my poor, heartbroken 16-year-old self, but I laughed and groaned and blushed all the way through them. So here, for your amusement, is one of my - ahem - gems. For quite a while I considered this my best poem. Inspired by a lotta lotta Cure songs and a boy that looked like Robert Smith, I actually titled this one "Untitled!" Let the laughter begin.
Silently, slowly, she walks to the river
And stands at its edge - for now and forever.
The wind whips her hair, her garments of white
And in her left hand the blade of a knife.
In the darkeing night mist mingles with tears
And her eyes look back on the torturous years.
"They don't understand, they don't care!" she cries
As she holds up the blade in front of her eyes
And sees her reflection so twisted, so cold
The despair in the face that has not yet grown old.
They won't ever see the suffering and pain
The heartache that played out an empty refrain
The sadness, rejection, deceit and betrayal
The far-away echoes of a love that had failed.
So forsaken by life that death seemed a friend,
She lowered the blade to bring life to an end
And choked back a sob and stifled a thought
As he came to her mind and tore at her heart.
She paused for a moment to bid him goodbye
And then lifted her wrist to the dome of the sky.
She watched as the knife slid and severed the vein
And cried out in defeat as her life slipped away.
1/17/93
School psychologist's dream, right? This poem was actually the turning point where my writing went from pretty and light to seriously dark. It was followed closely by blank verses with the enchanting titles "Alone," "Dead," "Prayers for Death," and "Innocence Burning." Yuck. My parents probably should have had me under constant surveillance! But it all turned out okay in the end....I think.....
That being said..... I was cleaning out our second bedroom the other day and ran across my most recent book of poems. So I sat down and read them. Needless to say, most of them are pure trash. I can still feel the sentiment behind them, though, and I see what I was trying to do, so they're still a little to close to my heart to laugh at. But then I pulled out my poems from highschool. Forgive me, my poor, heartbroken 16-year-old self, but I laughed and groaned and blushed all the way through them. So here, for your amusement, is one of my - ahem - gems. For quite a while I considered this my best poem. Inspired by a lotta lotta Cure songs and a boy that looked like Robert Smith, I actually titled this one "Untitled!" Let the laughter begin.
Silently, slowly, she walks to the river
And stands at its edge - for now and forever.
The wind whips her hair, her garments of white
And in her left hand the blade of a knife.
In the darkeing night mist mingles with tears
And her eyes look back on the torturous years.
"They don't understand, they don't care!" she cries
As she holds up the blade in front of her eyes
And sees her reflection so twisted, so cold
The despair in the face that has not yet grown old.
They won't ever see the suffering and pain
The heartache that played out an empty refrain
The sadness, rejection, deceit and betrayal
The far-away echoes of a love that had failed.
So forsaken by life that death seemed a friend,
She lowered the blade to bring life to an end
And choked back a sob and stifled a thought
As he came to her mind and tore at her heart.
She paused for a moment to bid him goodbye
And then lifted her wrist to the dome of the sky.
She watched as the knife slid and severed the vein
And cried out in defeat as her life slipped away.
1/17/93
School psychologist's dream, right? This poem was actually the turning point where my writing went from pretty and light to seriously dark. It was followed closely by blank verses with the enchanting titles "Alone," "Dead," "Prayers for Death," and "Innocence Burning." Yuck. My parents probably should have had me under constant surveillance! But it all turned out okay in the end....I think.....
Names
Checked out Barbara's blog the other day (barbaraj.blogspot.com, in case there's anyone but Barbara reading this!) and found the link to the page that will assign you a horribly British name. And found that there are many other types of new names you can get for yourself on that site as well!! Since I have probably the second most common name for girls my age (beaten out only by Jen), I'm always looking for something more original. Here, for your amusement, are all my new names!
My horribly British name: Daisy Callaghan
My hippie name: Aquamarine Jolly or Heart Birchwood
My fairy name: Daisy Pollen Flower
My fluffy kitty name: Samantha Merryweather
My pub name: The Ratty Alcohol
My goth name: Flirting with Suicide
My Monty Python name: Killer Throatwarbler
And for good measure, my Wu-name: Ungrateful Ninja
I'm slightly disturbed that the name Daisy turned up twice on the list. Are they trying to tell me something? And wasn't Daisy Callahan one of the main characters in The Great Gatsby? Anyway, watch out for these names, as I may be publishing under them soon. Right. Oh, and by the way: Barbara's fairy name is Marzipan Silvery Nightingale. I'm jealous!
My horribly British name: Daisy Callaghan
My hippie name: Aquamarine Jolly or Heart Birchwood
My fairy name: Daisy Pollen Flower
My fluffy kitty name: Samantha Merryweather
My pub name: The Ratty Alcohol
My goth name: Flirting with Suicide
My Monty Python name: Killer Throatwarbler
And for good measure, my Wu-name: Ungrateful Ninja
I'm slightly disturbed that the name Daisy turned up twice on the list. Are they trying to tell me something? And wasn't Daisy Callahan one of the main characters in The Great Gatsby? Anyway, watch out for these names, as I may be publishing under them soon. Right. Oh, and by the way: Barbara's fairy name is Marzipan Silvery Nightingale. I'm jealous!
4.17.2004
Shocker
Just found out that my 17-year-old cousin, who lives in China, is going to Kabul, Afghanistan for a week. By himself. I am scared. I am trusting.
Tourists
Woke up this morning to rain and thunder, which was somewhat disappointing after a beautiful week of typical Southern CA sun. After lazing around for a while, we decided to head for Ruby's on the Newport Pier for lunch. Since this is the end of spring break, there were more tourists there than usual. You can always pick them out, they're the ones wearing shorts and t shirts and playing in the water even though it's FREEZING! We were finishing up our lunch (beach burger and fish and chips, YUM!) when we noticed our favorite tourist of the day. He was wearing the requisite shorts and t shirt, and was fishing off the end of the pier. He'd gotten a bag of fries from Ruby's and set it on top of a trash can so that he could fish and munch at the same time. Now, there are two things that every true southern Californian knows: one, never turn your back on the ocean, and two, never turn your back on the sea gulls when you have anything they might possibly want. So, the fishing guy walked away to get his other pole, and this sea gull, seeing his moment, hopped up and scarfed a bunch of fries, then flew off. The fisherman came back, and, having missed the whole thing, started eating the fries! And everyone in the restaurant laughed. A minute later the guy left again, the sea gull came back to finish the job, and the guy caught it red-beaked. And then he laughed with the rest of us. I could sympathize with the guy. I almost lost my camera to a group of sea gulls a few weeks ago. I didn't think they'd be interested in eating it, but I guess I was mistaken!
Publishing peeve
Lately I've been reading Louisa May Alcott. It turns out she's written a bunch of stuff, not just Little Women. I've read some of it, but the other day saw that she'd written a book I'd never heard of, called Good Wives, a sequel to Little Women. In my joy at finding new material from a loved author, I rushed to the bookstore to buy my very own copy! The only copies they had were wrapped in plastic, presumably to keep the special edition necklace (real gold, I'm sure!) from becoming detached. I later found out that the plastic wrapping was really a dastardly plot! I began unwrapping the book on the way to the car. Thankfully, Nathan was driving so I could devote my whole attention to my new treasure. I opened up the book and excitedly began to read the first chapter, only to find that it was about Meg's wedding, which I'd read in Little Women. Hoping that it was just kind of a "flashback" sort of device, I flipped to the center of the book. No luck! As I continued to look at chapter titles I discovered that the book was no more than the second half of Little Women, published in its own volume! Why would they do this to me, the unsuspecting, trusting reader!?! You can't even FIND a copy of Little Women that doesn't include the second half, so what's the point in publishing the second half by itself? Obviously, the publisher knew this. Hence, the plastic wrapping and the ploy of the free necklace! How I wish I'd chosen to buy the copy of Jo's Boys instead......
Barbara, I hope you never get involved in something so deceitful! Ha!
Barbara, I hope you never get involved in something so deceitful! Ha!
4.13.2004
100 Things
Big thanks to Barbara for getting me up and running! I am definitely a technological idiot. So finally, a decent post! Maybe. We'll see. I'm stealing Babs's idea and doing a 100 things list! This is all you will ever need to know about me. Just kidding. Here you go.....
1. I am a Christian.
2. A Bible-believing, practicing one.
3. I have attended the same church since I was born.
4. A year and a half ago I married the last great single guy on the planet!
5. Maybe. I hear there are still a few good ones out there.
6. My parents have been married for 38 years.
7. We will follow their example.
8. I have two older brothers by birth.
9. I have 3 older sisters, 1 older brother, 2 younger brothers, and 2 younger sisters by marriage.
10. I have SIX neices: Rachel (6), Morgan (4), Zoe (3), Naomi (3), Lindsay (2), and Eszter (1 month).
11. I am a youngest child.
12. But I'm not spoiled.
13. But I am irresponsible a lot of the time.
14. My name means follower of Christ.
15. It also means free spirit.
16. I believe that these two things are not mutually exclusive.
17. I am sometimes called Bug by those who love me.
18. I am called Freak by my best friend, who shares my name.
19. I am obsessed with toe socks.
20. I am a huge Cure fan.
21. I have more books than I have bookshelves for.
22. For me, reading is right up there with eating and breathing.
23. I would rather read than sleep a decent number of hours.
24. Fitzgerald is my favorite author.
25. Followed closely by Steinbeck, Wilde, Flagg, and Lewis.
26. I will probably never live outside of Southern California.
27. But I will travel the world!
28. My favorite far-away cities are London, Chiang Mai (Thailand), and Mexican Hat (Utah).
29. Just kidding about the Utah part.
30. My newest hobby is geocaching (geocaching.com), which Nathan and I like to do on the weekends.
31. I believe Starbucks is a sign of the times.
32. The end times.
33. It may be one of the plagues.
34. My favorite movies are Gone with the Wind and Singing in the Rain.
35. And recently, Bend It Like Beckham.
36. I have one calico cat named Payasa (it means clown in Spanish).
37. I live in a neighborhood where every night at about 9:45 a man drives down the street in a
white van, honks, gets out, and yells "SANCHEZ!" at the top of his voice.
38. This has become one of my favorite things.
39. I am an ocean person.
40. I love to drive, especially when I have a lot on my mind.
41. I have never broken a bone.
42. I have, however, drunk dishwashing detergent.
43. I often regress to reading the books I loved as a child and a teenager.
44. I am not afraid of heights.
45. But when I'm up high I'm sometimes afraid I'll jump.
46. It turns out this is a common fear.
47. New experiences frighten and excite me at the same time.
48. I like to watch wax melt.
49. I am happy in all kinds of weather.
50. I am an introvert who has learned to be an extrovert on occasion.
51. I kept a journal for 14 years.
52. I love to write.
53. I love to put olives on the ends of my fingers and then eat them (olives, not fingers).
54. I like fog when I don't have to drive in it.
55. I enjoy being alone.
56. I am addicted to Harry Potter.
57. I still sleep with a stuffed animal.
58. Nathan had a hard time with this at first, but he's adjusted.
59. I love studying history.
60. I collect old fruit crate labels.
61. I love Louisa May Alcott's books for their simplicity and truth.
62. I hate talking on the phone, except to the select few.
63. I am sometimes painfully shy, and this leads people to think I'm a snob.
64. You know who you are.
65. I am too opinionated.
66. But I've learned to keep my mouth shut.
67. I am trying to master the art of photography.
68. I am also trying to master the art of living in the present.
69. I sometimes think I should have been born in the early 20th century.
70. I am an INFP.
71. I have ten fingers and ten toes (in case you were wondering).
72. Or, if you want to get technical, eight fingers and two thumbs.
73. I am not a creative memories person.
74. But I am creative in how I preserve memories.
75. I am not career-oriented.
76. I am a risk-taker.
77. I have been known to make a fool of myself in order to avoid regretting a missed opportunity.
78. Some of my best experiences have resulted from taking the risk, though.
79. I enjoy the sound of light traffic when I'm trying to fall asleep.
80. I am more of a city person than I once thought.
81. I am not very competitive.
82. I am bad at confrontation.
83. I am a very big believer in traditions.
84. I have never played a sport.
85. But I LOVE watching baseball.
86. I have a bad habit of picking my nails.
87. I don't know what color my hair really is.
88. I love to sing, but I'm not that good at it.
89. My choir director graciously overlooks this.
90. I daydream a lot.
91. I love to be outdoors.
92. But I'm not "outdoorsy."
93. I have authority issues.
94. I work where Office Space was filmed (or might as well).
95. I love the way children's eyes look in the sunlight.
96. I love the way pregnant women put their hands on their bellies and listen inside themselves.
97. "The Weight of Glory" by C.S. Lewis is one of the best things I've ever read.
98. I love playing with sidewalk chalk.
99. I love being quiet.
100. I love being done with this list.....for the third time......
1. I am a Christian.
2. A Bible-believing, practicing one.
3. I have attended the same church since I was born.
4. A year and a half ago I married the last great single guy on the planet!
5. Maybe. I hear there are still a few good ones out there.
6. My parents have been married for 38 years.
7. We will follow their example.
8. I have two older brothers by birth.
9. I have 3 older sisters, 1 older brother, 2 younger brothers, and 2 younger sisters by marriage.
10. I have SIX neices: Rachel (6), Morgan (4), Zoe (3), Naomi (3), Lindsay (2), and Eszter (1 month).
11. I am a youngest child.
12. But I'm not spoiled.
13. But I am irresponsible a lot of the time.
14. My name means follower of Christ.
15. It also means free spirit.
16. I believe that these two things are not mutually exclusive.
17. I am sometimes called Bug by those who love me.
18. I am called Freak by my best friend, who shares my name.
19. I am obsessed with toe socks.
20. I am a huge Cure fan.
21. I have more books than I have bookshelves for.
22. For me, reading is right up there with eating and breathing.
23. I would rather read than sleep a decent number of hours.
24. Fitzgerald is my favorite author.
25. Followed closely by Steinbeck, Wilde, Flagg, and Lewis.
26. I will probably never live outside of Southern California.
27. But I will travel the world!
28. My favorite far-away cities are London, Chiang Mai (Thailand), and Mexican Hat (Utah).
29. Just kidding about the Utah part.
30. My newest hobby is geocaching (geocaching.com), which Nathan and I like to do on the weekends.
31. I believe Starbucks is a sign of the times.
32. The end times.
33. It may be one of the plagues.
34. My favorite movies are Gone with the Wind and Singing in the Rain.
35. And recently, Bend It Like Beckham.
36. I have one calico cat named Payasa (it means clown in Spanish).
37. I live in a neighborhood where every night at about 9:45 a man drives down the street in a
white van, honks, gets out, and yells "SANCHEZ!" at the top of his voice.
38. This has become one of my favorite things.
39. I am an ocean person.
40. I love to drive, especially when I have a lot on my mind.
41. I have never broken a bone.
42. I have, however, drunk dishwashing detergent.
43. I often regress to reading the books I loved as a child and a teenager.
44. I am not afraid of heights.
45. But when I'm up high I'm sometimes afraid I'll jump.
46. It turns out this is a common fear.
47. New experiences frighten and excite me at the same time.
48. I like to watch wax melt.
49. I am happy in all kinds of weather.
50. I am an introvert who has learned to be an extrovert on occasion.
51. I kept a journal for 14 years.
52. I love to write.
53. I love to put olives on the ends of my fingers and then eat them (olives, not fingers).
54. I like fog when I don't have to drive in it.
55. I enjoy being alone.
56. I am addicted to Harry Potter.
57. I still sleep with a stuffed animal.
58. Nathan had a hard time with this at first, but he's adjusted.
59. I love studying history.
60. I collect old fruit crate labels.
61. I love Louisa May Alcott's books for their simplicity and truth.
62. I hate talking on the phone, except to the select few.
63. I am sometimes painfully shy, and this leads people to think I'm a snob.
64. You know who you are.
65. I am too opinionated.
66. But I've learned to keep my mouth shut.
67. I am trying to master the art of photography.
68. I am also trying to master the art of living in the present.
69. I sometimes think I should have been born in the early 20th century.
70. I am an INFP.
71. I have ten fingers and ten toes (in case you were wondering).
72. Or, if you want to get technical, eight fingers and two thumbs.
73. I am not a creative memories person.
74. But I am creative in how I preserve memories.
75. I am not career-oriented.
76. I am a risk-taker.
77. I have been known to make a fool of myself in order to avoid regretting a missed opportunity.
78. Some of my best experiences have resulted from taking the risk, though.
79. I enjoy the sound of light traffic when I'm trying to fall asleep.
80. I am more of a city person than I once thought.
81. I am not very competitive.
82. I am bad at confrontation.
83. I am a very big believer in traditions.
84. I have never played a sport.
85. But I LOVE watching baseball.
86. I have a bad habit of picking my nails.
87. I don't know what color my hair really is.
88. I love to sing, but I'm not that good at it.
89. My choir director graciously overlooks this.
90. I daydream a lot.
91. I love to be outdoors.
92. But I'm not "outdoorsy."
93. I have authority issues.
94. I work where Office Space was filmed (or might as well).
95. I love the way children's eyes look in the sunlight.
96. I love the way pregnant women put their hands on their bellies and listen inside themselves.
97. "The Weight of Glory" by C.S. Lewis is one of the best things I've ever read.
98. I love playing with sidewalk chalk.
99. I love being quiet.
100. I love being done with this list.....for the third time......
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