endless summer

oh korea!

2011-10-05T04:27:00.000-07:00

my korea blog is finally up and running! i am about 5 posts behind, but i have posted pics and a summary of my first week.

check it out, yo: www.seasideinssouthkorea.blogspot.com (or click on the link above: my new korean blog).

silence

2011-09-25T18:09:00.000-07:00

dear few but faithful followers,

i apologize for my many months of silence. this summer was much busier than i anticipated it would be. and, getting ready for korea proved to be an intensley stressful experience.

i assure you, dear readers, that i fully intend to post my many pictures and adventures of NYC, as soon as i find the time.

i am in the process of getting settled in korea. and, i have decided to start a blog dedicated to this new adventure. i have yet to post anything on said blog, as i have been spending every waking minute teaching, talking to friends and family or cleaning my apartment. but, soon, i will start blogging, probably in my binge-like style.

so...when that happens, here is the address: seasideinsouthkorea.blogspot.com.

but, keep your eyes and ears open for NYC posts on this blog. i just have to document it. what a fabulous, life-changing summer it was!

until my house is clean,

your loving, yet fickle, blogger.

new york

2011-09-24T03:55:00.000-07:00

i have decided, in facing all of the posts about korea that i have yet to compose, that it is foolish to think that i can blog about new york as well.

so, this is what i will say about my summer in the big city...

i fell in love.

and really, that's all you need to know.

p.s. check out my pics of the summer on FB.

yee-haw, cowboy

2011-06-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

brooklyn has a thing for old mechanical rides. apparently, so does ryder, and alexis and i have a thing for watching him ride new york's finest horses, dinos and cars. nothin like life in the city.

the hood

2011-06-26T16:56:00.000-07:00

i am in love. i am in love with brooklyn.

we've been here almost a month now, and i am seriously considering a move to the big city...eventually. i've never been interested in visiting new york, perhaps because of the "touristy" nature of the place. times square, the empire state building, wall street, etc. haven't ever motivated me to come to new york. but, if i had known how cool brooklyn is, i would have visited long, long ago.

i know it's only been a month, but i feel quite comfortable here. i know the lady down at the dry cleaner, the pizza man on the corner, and most of our neighbors. right now, this feels like home. so, ladies and gentlemen, here's the hood.

the pad
the street: st. marks place, between 4th and 5th

atlantic station: it's up the block
playing with a new train from auntie brookie and a new race car from grandpa t

chillin in our neighborhood: park slope playground

strolling through the water on a hot new york day

brooklyn playgrounds are serious business

"chillin on the stoop is what new york is all about" -forrest cole

we spend a lot of time scooting down our street

ryder made mommy the king of brooklyn

park slope ward building

more stoop time after church

ryder playing in front of our favorite bakery, est. 1904

an old church on court street

my favorite street in brooklyn. it's in cobble hill, my favorite area of brooklyn. someday, i want to live here.

story time

2011-06-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

the best part about being up north for the summer is spending time with my nephew, ryder. there's nothing quite like it: he randomly tells me he loves me, gives me kisses, makes me laugh till i cry, asks me to play imaginary tennis with him, says the cutest things in the funniest voice ever like "hot tamales" and "you're nice. i like you." on sunday, he told me that i looked pretty. so, life is good.

one of my favorite things to do is read him stories at nap time and bed time. mike and alexis are gracious and let me in on the fun. ryder will fill in many of the words in the stories if we stop reading. it's adorable. one of the few books that made the trip is there's a wocket in my pocket. when i was a kid, this was my favorite dr. seuss book. now that i'm an adult, it's still my favorite dr. seuss book.

since we only have a few books with us in NY, we've read this one a million times. ryder knows almost all the words. the other night, i read it to him, saying only the first part of each rhyme, e.g., do you ever have the feeling there's a wasket in your..., and ryder filled in the final word. he knew the end to every rhyme in the book. it was precious. i'm loving my summer!

adventures in pennslyvania

2011-06-24T21:48:00.000-07:00

one of the first stops in my summer east coast tour was the lovely state of pennsylvania. j bird promised to take me camping, and that he did. we had an amazing weekend full of roller coasters, steam-engine trains, and coal mines.

if any of you happen to find your way to the coal country, you have to hit knoebels. it's this amazing amusement park, built in 1926, tucked in the lush green of eastern penn.
much like the towns that surround it, knoebels is stuck in time. i felt like i should be wearing an outfit like this:

i didn't, but i did feel like i had taken a time machine back to a more magical era. there's no admission fee for the park; instead, they sell ticket books. yes, i said ticket books with $1, 50 and 25 cent tickets in ticket booths that have been there since the 20's.

we rode the grand carousel, which was built in 1913 by george kremer of long island, NY. he purchased the hand-carved horses from wood-carver charles carmel. carmel immigrated from russia in 1883 at the age of 18. he made a living carving carousel figures in his brooklyn wood shop until his death in 1931.

the carousel is accompanied by 3 organs. the largest of the three, which is housed inside the carousel building was built in 1888 by frati and company in berlin, germany. on the carousel, you can still try to catch the brass ring for a free ride. i caught lots of rings, none of them brass. but, on our second ride, jared caught the brass ring and did, in fact, win a free ride! it was all very exciting!

there are plenty of other reminders of times gone by, like old cars, fire trucks, steam engines, black smiths, and wooden roller coasters. in fact, all of the coasters in knoebels are wood, most of them decades old.

the phoenix was my favorite roller coaster. we rode it three times. i would have kept riding, but we used all of our tickets. and, there was something cool about that. this coaster was built in 1947, and was, in its time, the largest coaster in the world. it's original home was at playland park in san antonio, tx; in order to preserve the ride after the closing of playland, knoebels bought and relocated the coaster to pennsylvania in 1985. this was the first time a large, wooden coaster was relocated. all i have to say is that the phoenix did not disappoint. please see video for proof!

i also totally loved this ride; this is not surprising, as i've always wanted to fly, and being on this little ride almost feels like flying. the sign on the front of the ride says it's been "flying high" since 1971.
we rode the ferris wheel, as well. it was the first time in living memory that i've ridden a ferris wheel. beautiful views and a moment of relaxation in a day of thrills and laughs. we ate lots of yummy food: 2 funnel cakes, hot dogs, and an ice cream sunday big enough for an army. we left exhausted and with smiles from ear to ear.

the next day, we went to ashland, pa for some coal mining fun. we took a train into a coal mine that has been preserved since the day it was closed in 1932, due to the depression. it was pretty spectacular. please note the tiredness visible on our faces from the day before.

mushrooms...growing out of the rock. sweet.

just in case we missed it. haha.

this car was found full of coal when the mine was reopened as a tourist attraction.

then, we rode the henry clay, an old steam engine built in 1927. we learned about the history of coal mining in ashland and centralia from a very cool guy in a very cool conductor (as ryder would say) outfit.

thank you, j bird, for an unforgettable trip!

what i miss most about south carolina

2011-06-20T20:10:00.000-07:00

right now, i'm in between homes. i am spending the summer living with mike, alexis, ryder and baby coconut poelman before i leave for korea. thus far, this summer has been indescribably marvelous.

however...perhaps because of my homeless-esque state, it's only just starting to become real to me that i won't be going back to south carolina. i've decided that i miss it and that, before i forget, i need to make a list of things that i miss about it. so, here's the list, in no particular order.

the candy-scented air
day trips to folly beach
anna
the movie theater at harbison
friends from the lake murray ward
the carolina roll at fusion bowl
gold's gym in lexington
hanging out in the WC with graham
driving over rivers everywhere i go
running into students on campus
southern accents
beezers
my office
so many former students who are now some of my dearest friends
walking through the horseshoe
elizabeth and nicole from USC's FYE
my apartment, particularly my bed
all the single ladies: jean marie, aimee, kelli, jessie, and mara
teaching

ok. so, i realized in writing this post that i could go on forever, and this is by no means an exhaustive list, but i have oh so many other things to blog about. i will just say that, despite its craziness, the south has sunk into my soul, and i miss it dearly. i feel lucky to have met so many incredible people in south carolina who have changed my life forever. to you all, i am in debt. i will always remember my time in columbia with a smile. farewell, dear south.

listening to the wind of change

2011-04-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

i've been feeling it for a while now, maybe because i have a hard time staying in one place for longer than a year or two. maybe because it's time for a new adventure. maybe because i need to start heading toward a career. maybe because it's been too long since i've done something crazy. whatever the reason, my time in south carolina is coming to an end.

i've tried several options: got offered a job with teach for america, but it didn't seem like the right move, so i turned it down. i looked into the peace corps, but that's not the right move either. i've seriously considered moving to costa rica, but sadly, that's not the place for me either...yet.

very recently and quite unexpectedly, i found the right move. so...it is with great excitement that i officially announce my new plan:

I'M MOVING TO SOUTH KOREA

i'm in the process of getting a job at a school in korea where i will be teaching english to university aged students and adults. although i will miss you all dearly, i am thrilled about the opportunity and about the fact that i am certain that this is the right decision for this time in my life.

here are the deets of the next few months:

beginning of may: drive to utah to chill with maiyah. then, vegas.
end of may: fly to DC.
june: NYC with mike, alexis, ryder, and baby girl poelman.
july-august: DC with same.
beginning of september: fly to vegas.
end of septemeber/beginning of october: fly to korea.

conversations on assembly

2011-02-01T15:37:00.001-08:00

USC is nestled quite beautifully in downtown columbia, which makes for a lovely drive across the river and for a very interesting walk up to my office from the institute building where i park (for free...thank you USC institute).

walking up assembly this morning (see photo above), i was stopped by a couple of homeless guys. this is not an unusual occurrence; i'm used to having people stop me and ask for my loose change, but today, i had some unique conversations with downtown columbia's finest.

first conversation...about 2 minutes into my walk up to campus went just like this:

homeless guy #1: "hey sweetie, can i ask you a sports question?"

me: "a sports question? sure."

homeless guy #1: "who do you think is going to win the big game between...uh...the green bay packers and the...um...pittsburgh steelers?"

me: "well, i hope that green bay wins, but i think the steelers might pull it out."

homeless guy #1: "AHAHAHAHAHA. (walking away, talking to homeless guy #2) did you just hear what she said?"

i continued up assembly, giggling at the interaction.

second conversation...about 15 seconds later, another homeless guy holding hands with his girl came walking up to me:

homeless guy #3: "heeey hunny. damn, girl, you are fiiiiiiiiiine."

me: (without stopping) "uh, thanks?"

i laughed the whole way up to my building. it was like being on candid camera.

third conversation...on the walk back to my car, anna and i were approached by another homeless man:

homeless guy #4: "hey ladies! you are both looking beeeeeaaauuuutiful today."

me and anna: speechless.

now, i recognize that my interactions with the homeless is somewhat limited, but these were some of the coolest conversations i've ever had with homeless individuals. i'm thinking maybe it was homeless outreach day or something. so, this is an official shout out to the homeless people of downtown columbia: thanks for making my day.

it's the little things

2011-01-12T20:31:00.000-08:00

it's cliche, i know. but it really is the little things that make life worth living. right now, one of my favorite little (or not so little) things is my nephew, ryder. i never much gooshed over babies (thank you, jerry mcguire) and never really anticipated becoming an aunt. i didn't get it when people were consumed by their nieces or nephews.

now i get it.

so, back to the little things. ryder has this thing about wanting people to do things with him. so, one of his most common phrases is "with me." it's about the cutest thing you've ever heard. apparently, a couple of days ago, alexis was talking to ryder about going to the doctor, and he said, "brookie, with me."

yep. life is worth living.

under pressure

2010-11-25T18:37:00.000-08:00

i'm 35. but, when i say it loud, it sounds much older than i feel. this being 35 really isn't so bad. i feel young; i feel happy. i am happy. i've lived a fantastic life thus far, traveling, learning, and connecting with people all over the world. i now have a fairly certain sense of who i am and what i want my life to be.

thing is, i'm single. and, in my 30's, this has been a lingering uncertainty that i am still learning how to manage. i've done alright for myself so far. i focus, as i always have, on life as a journey, and i relish in the incredible opportunities it has to offer. over the last year and a half, i have unexpectedly found fulfillment in teaching students in south carolina about the middle east, which has forever changed me. so, most days, this being single simply rests in the background of my adventurous and invigorating life...

...until now.

for the first time ever, i am feeling socially uneasy about being single. i find myself being more careful about telling people how old i am. i get concerned about comments and looks that my age+singleness will produce from people. it seems to me that i have crossed some magic line from being acceptably, if unfortunately, single to being uncomfortably single. this, of course, is not without justification.

recently, the looks have turned from surprise to pity and the comments from reassurance to various disturbing alternatives to marriage. a couple of weeks ago, i had a woman, with her hand on my shoulder, tell me that i can live a wonderful, exciting life without getting married, because there are many experiences to be had. on the same day, another woman told me that i will be a great wife and mother: if not in this life, in the next. (sigh). later that week, two other people, on separate occasions, asked if i thought i would ever get married.

apparently, gone are the days of warm and fuzzy, encouraging stories, comments and opinions. i suppose this is what happens on the down-slope to 40. perhaps people just don't know what to do with me and my singleness. i don't really know what to do with it either. there are only two things of which i am certain: i'm happy with my life, past and present. and, if i could do it over again, i'd do it all the same.

so, i only know one way to answer those two people who asked me if i thought i'd ever get married...i hope so. i hope.

friendly banter

2010-11-17T13:47:00.000-08:00

so, my friend jared has this super cool job that takes him over to iraq for a couple of months at a time, which is awesome, except that communications between the US of A and iraq are less than favorable at times. what's worse is that with the time change and our busy schedules, i often miss jared's calls.

on monday, j called and left me a voicemail in which he jokingly demanded a "signed, sealed, and notarized explanation" of why i missed his call. the following is a letter that i emailed to him later that night. it made me laugh while i was writing it, so i thought i would share it here. here you go, mr. mccullough, you've officially made it to the blog:

November 15, 2010

Jared Lee McCullough
[censored gov't address]
09344

Re: Phone call to Brooke Leora Grant

Dear Sir:

We have been informed that you made a phone call from Iraq at 15:55 Eastern Standard Time on 15 November 2010 to Ms. Brooke Leora Grant. We are also aware that she was unable to answer this call. Apparently, in your voicemail, you indicated that you required a formal letter of explanation for why Ms. Grant did not answer your phone call, important as it was.

Ms. Grant has asked us to serve as voice for her in this explanation.

First, please be aware that Ms. Grant is always pleased to receive phone calls from you. She also thoroughly enjoys the voicemails that you leave for her. She has instructed us to encourage you to continue calling her and leaving messages.

Second, we would like to express, on behalf of Ms. Grant, the sincerity of Ms. Grant’s disappointment at missing your phone call. She, of course, did not hear the call, and when she finally removed her phone from her bag, she was frustrated at the realization of missing your call. In conjunction with this, we would like to gently remind you that whenever possible Ms. Grant answers your phone calls, even when she is in class.

Third, we would like to provide you with the explanation for Ms. Grant missing your call on the above listed date. According to her sworn statement, Ms. Grant’s inability to answer your call was due simply to the fact that she did not hear her phone ring. Had she heard the call, she would have certainly answered, despite the unknown number.

We hope that this explanation answers your questions and fulfills the request as stated in your voicemail. As always, Ms. Grant is more than happy to allocate some time to talk with you, as long as she is not teaching.

Please receive our deepest gratitude, along with the infinite gratitude of Ms. Grant, for your sacrifice in serving our country and its military. It would make us sincerely happy to see you reunited with our client, Ms. Grant, as quickly as possible.

Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors,

Iraqi-US Conspiracy Counsel

an apple for the teacher

2010-11-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

it's been a long time since i've had anything of consequence to write on the blog. actually, that's not true, but i've gotten out of the habit of keeping track of the crazy life moments that i want to write here. last week, i had one such moment and promised myself that i would take the time to write about it on the blog. so, (deep breath) here it goes.

last week, my student, katja, came into my office to talk about some problems she was having on her paper. she walked in and said, "i know this is super cliche, but i have an apple for you (as she hands me said apple). my grandparents own a 1000 acre apple orchard, and they brought me some over the weekend."

precious. and so not cliche. i took the apple, glowing, of course, and showering her with thanks. in between my thank you's and smiles, katja told me that she had asked her roommate if she thought it was ok to give an apple to her teacher. her roommate said, "um, i really don't think that's a good idea. i wouldn't do it." katja thought for a second and said to her roommate, "no, you don't know brooke. i think she'll love it."

but, what happened next was even better. we discussed her questions and determined some things she could do to improve her paper (which was already well-written). as she stood up to leave, she said, "i've worked harder on this paper than any other paper i've ever written, and i've loved every minute."

it's moments like this that make me love teaching. this semester, in particular, i have had more students than usual who have had breakthrough moments. in those moments, i am happiest. nothing is quite so exciting as seeing a student recognize and conquer a weakness in his/her writing or having a student, like angel, who realized this semester that her perception of Middle Eastern culture has been unconsciously formed through the lens of 9/11 and is dangerously biased. so, as she put, she has formed a "bigger picture" or "an end game" for the rest of her work in this class, which is to look for and draw out the similarities between cultures rather than the differences.

yes. this is why i love teaching. and, this is why i loved katja's apple. because, in the deepest deep of my heart, i am a teacher. and there's nothing i would rather be.

background obsession

2010-11-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

it's been a long time since i've blogged, as you all know. so this new blog template designer thing has my mind spinning and spinning. it also has me obsessed with trying new backgrounds for the blog...yeah, the one i never write on.

tonight, though, i think i found the winner. i love my new blog background, and i commit, here and now, that i will start blogging again for real, instead of just changing my background and teasing you all with pretend blog posts.

back to blogging

2010-09-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

my blog sent me a message. it said it missed me. thank you, alexis, for delivering that message. i am currently sitting in my office at USC waiting for class to start. so, i thought i would take advantage of the time and at least get myself a new background. i figure that will make me more motivated to blog about my less-than-exciting life.

new background: check.
new font colors: check.
new font style: check.
something to write about. . .in progress.

see you all (and by all, i mean alexis) soon!

the thing i miss least about our old house

2009-11-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

below please find pictures of the devil ice maker in our old house. it would randomly make buckets and buckets of ice for a couple of days and then stop for no reason for weeks. this was on one of the overload days. seriously? that much ice?

i am happy to report that in our new house, we have an ice maker that makes ice consistently--not too much--just enough to keep our drinks cold. cheers to the new pad.

usc/vanderbilt

2009-11-07T17:48:00.000-08:00

last week travis came out to visit the south. we went to a USC game. i still can't get over how crazy these games are. they fans are so intense. it's louder and more insane than any professional or college game i've ever been to. all hail SEC football...and good friends.

hello the south

2009-11-06T17:40:00.000-08:00

yes, this is a mobile church semi-truck. it was parked in a mcdonalds parking lot. i am basking in the rich cultural experience of living in the south. thought i should share.

braves v dodgers, a little late

2009-11-05T17:19:00.000-08:00

back in the day (summertime) anna and i went to a braves dodgers game. it was great. we had awesome seats. it rained for the first couple of innings, but we were faithful fans and stuck it out. the dodgers won. and after the game we got a fireworks show.

we also went to the steak and shake and had some of the yummiest food ever. we drove back to columbia until 3 in the morning. then anna got on a plane to california at 5. it was crazy but it was worth it. please see crazy braves fan in costume.

ah, the joys of renting

2009-10-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

so, on wednesday our roommate aimee came home with some interesting info. our landlord has apparently sold the house that we are living in and is closing on the 31st of this month. so. . .anna and i spent our fall break looking for places to live. not so much fun. however, we both feel that things have fallen into place for us in amazing ways, and today, we found our new home!

it's new. it's clean. it's gated. it's roach free. it has a pool. we each have our own bathroom. it's perfect!

i will post pics as soon as we move in! in the meantime, any of you who are willing to come out to SC and help us move are more than welcome! wink wink.

and you shall be my phrase. . .

2009-09-30T19:42:00.000-07:00

after a long, hard day of conferencing with students in the writing center, teaching, attending young women's activities, grading papers, working online for the university of phoenix, and teaching, i like to sit down to the favorite american pastime of watching endless hours of mindless television.

one of my most favorite shows, so you think you can dance, (really there are only three: so you think you can dance, biggest loser, and criminal minds) is beginning its 6th season. tonight, after one dancer put on a great show, lil' c, in his unique lil' c way said..."i'm clappin' it up for you."

i have decided to pirate the phrase. in the infamous words of dori: i will take you home. and i will call you my phrase. and you shall be mine.

so...to all my peeps...i'm clapping it up for you. officially pirated.

three cheers for flacco

2009-09-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

i'm usually one to follow players more than teams, especially in the NFL. the one exception being, of course, my dallas cowboys (yes, i can hear you booing). but, other than the boys in blue, my loyalty usually lies with individual players. this tends to work better in the days of free-agency anyway. and it makes sunday afternoon football much more interesting, because i'm usually invested in a couple of players on each team.

the latest addition to the players of whom i am a fan is mr. joe flacco. i fell in love with his story and his style last year. he was like the wonder kid who came out of nowhere. since when do rookie quarterbacks go 11 and 5? i've yet to watch him this year, but as i'm sitting here watching the eagles silence the panthers, i can't help but get excited about seeing where joe takes the ravens this year! go flacco!

the down-side of usc

2009-09-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

so. my excitement over being hired at USC has dwindled just slightly over the last week or so. it turns out that, as anna has been telling me for the last two years, things don't run quite as efficiently at USC as they did at BYU. this has become painfully apparent to me as i have tried to deal with getting my paperwork filed with the payroll department.

here's the deal. i was supposed to get paid on the 1st of septmember, but i had to have my transcript sent from BYU before the dean would pass on the paperwork. fine. i understand that, kinda. like a responsible human, i contacted BYU immediately and had the transcript sent priority mail (which cost me extra)to USC. it arrived in a couple of days, because BYU rocks. so, on my paperwork went, or so i thought.

now, they're telling me that i won't get paid on the 15th of september either, because my name is still not in the system. despite all i've done to rush the process, including emailing professors i hardly know, it looks like i'm going to have to wait even longer to get a paycheck.

needless to say. my pockets and my bank account are feeling frighteningly empty. sigh. pray for a miracle!

the plaxico burress mess

2009-08-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

as most of you already know, i'm a fan of guns. not so much a fan of kids with guns, or criminals with guns, or the process of defining gun laws, but i'm a fan of owning and shooting a gun. today, however, i'm coming down on the more "liberal" side of the fence (which ironically feels to me more like a conservative position than a liberal one. whatever...politics are weird).

anyway, to my rant: i've been listening to plaxico burress' explanation of how it was he came to accidentally shoot himself in the leg at a night club. first of all, i don't think he's the brightest of fellows. what kind of professional, athlete or otherwise, packs a gun in his pants in a public place? who are you? tupac? 50 cent? if you want to carry a concealed weapon, for which you have a permit in florida, why haven't you invested in a holster in which you can safely carry said weapon? i imagine you probably have to cut some serious financial corners with your multi-million dollar contract. probably not. and, having that CCW, you should have been educated on how to safely handle a weapon. looks like you failed that test. someone needs to go back to his CCW class and actually pay attention. (applicable movie quote: oh i forgot, you were absent the day they taught law at law school).

now, don't get me wrong, i feel for the guy. it must suck to be a poster-child for stupidity, harsher gun laws, and the reason athletes get a bad rap. i know his good buddy steve smith was robbed the night before at that club, but i agree with mike and mike (in the morning). if you have to pack heat to go to a certain establishment...don't go there. or, don't take the gun. you're a stinking professional athlete. invest in a bodyguard. i mean, what are you going to do if someone tries to rob you? shoot him? oh yes, that's a much better scenario. now, along with your illegal possession of a firearm, you're facing manslaughter charges. is this explanation supposed to make us understand why you were packing heat? cause it doesn't. and, by the way plaxico, you're a pretty big dude. i'm sure you could handle yourself. stop trying to be a gangster and just play football.

or, go to jail. while i do think, in some ways, the system is using plaxico burress to send a message and i'm sure that his celebrity status hurt him in this case, i sincerely hope that it will encourage people to obey gun laws that are clearly in place to protect people from others and from their own stupidity. that said, good luck plax, and good luck winning without him giants.

the new job

2009-08-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

here are my new colors. (don't worry dad, i still bleed blue). in an incredible set of unforseen circumstances, i was offered a job adjuncting for the university of south carolina. it's so great being back in a classroom again, and although i do miss TGASID, it's so fun having a real job again. so...go gamecocks!

the bravest little lizard i know

2009-08-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

ok. so, i've always been a fan of lizards and such. it probably comes from chasing them in our backyard when we were kids (alexis and keill, i'm sure you remember). but, after my latest experience, i have a new-found respect for the little guys.

about a week ago, i went out to my car before work. got in, started the engine, and noticed a little green gecko on my windshield. i poked at him from the inside of my car, he jumped down further on the windshield. i poked at him again, and he jumped onto the passenger-side windshield wiper. naturally, i was concerned for this little guy's life, but i was going to be late for work. so, i backed out of the driveway, assuming he would jump off at the first opportunity.

i drove up my street to the stop sign. he didn't budge. then, to the stoplight on the first major street. he didn't even flinch. i turned onto highway 1, which is pretty much just a normal sized street in las vegas, but with a speed limit of 55 mph. i slowly accelerated until i hit about 50. i could see the little guy holding on for dear life. his legs were fully extended and shaking in the wind, and it looked like he wasn't going to make it. i was so sad and totally pep-talking him through the windshield.

i had to stay with the flow of traffic and was slowly reaching 60 mph. i didn't think he was gonna make it. all of a sudden, he bounced from the windshield wiper onto the windshield. the force of the wind was then pushing him against the car. smart little bugger. i was so excited that i actually cheered for him out loud!

a few more blocks down the road, i pulled into work with the green gecko superhero still on my windshield. i gave him some props when i got out of my car. when i came back out after work, he was gone. i'm sure he retreated safely into the forest at the edge of the parking lot. all i know is he was the bravest little lizard i've ever seen. part of me wished he was still there when i came out.

2009 Beach Tour: Stop 3

2009-08-16T17:26:00.000-07:00

so, stop three on our beach tour wasn't the greatest day at the beach, but it was a very relaxing trip out of columbia. aimee couldn't come with us, so it was just anna, rachel and i. we took a little trip down to beaufort and went over to the adjacent hunting island (which i kept calling huntington island, for obvious reasons.)

the drive out to hunting island was amazing! it's like a rain forrest in the south. we saw an alligator that lives (naturally and uncaged) outside of the ranger station. it was creepy and cool. there is also the oldest lighthouse in south carolina on the island. we took a drive over to peek at it. there is something about lighthouses. haven't figured it out yet, but i want to live in one (or near one) someday.

one of the highlights of the trip was a parade for the water festival that apparently is a big-to-do in beaufort this time of year. it was like i accidentally walked on to the set of steel magnolias. rad. please see pictures below.

beach tour: stop 2

2009-07-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

it being the 4th of july and all, we thought we should certainly spend the day in the sun by the water. so, we packed up our beach stuff again and headed to lake murray. we spent the day laying on the sand and swimming with 10,000 other people. we were careful to not swallow any water, as we were sure every kid in the state had peed in the lake several times. we had a bbq around 4 and headed back to the lake for fireworks. i took these pictures while waiting for the fireworks to start. couldn't imagine a better 4th. (unless my family was here, of course)

stop 2: murray lake, sc
4 july 2009

the 2009 summer beach tour

2009-07-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

we have decided to take advantage of the great state of south carolina by creating the 2009 summer beach tour. bring on the sunglasses, coolers, towels, books, snacks, and suntan lotion, or in rachel's case, the 70spf! i invite you all to come along...if only through pictures.

stop 1: folly beach, sc

3 july 2009

my transformers birthday bash

2009-06-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

i do realize that having a transformers themed birthday party at the not-so-young age of 34 may seem ridiculous to some, but when anna and i came up with the idea, we didn't much care about that. we went straight out and bought transformers invitations, plates, cups, and napkins. we invited a few people over for pizza, rootbeer, and transformer-colored cupcakes while we watched the first transformers. then, we headed over to the movie theater, where we met some other friends, for the second transformers movie. we hit macaroni grill to top off the night. it was a killer party!

the farmer's market

2009-06-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

anna and i went to the farmer's market to get some fruits and veggies. i was expecting a local farmer's market like others that i have been to...small lean-to made of wood with some small tables set up. no. it was a massive gated area with huge warehouses filled with trucks (literally)full of peaches and watermellons, squash and corn. we have found heaven on earth. here's some pics of what we got for about 20 bucks. sweet!

the daddy duck goes quack quack quack

2009-06-10T18:23:00.000-07:00

i was doing dishes this morning and looked out of my kitchen window to see this family of geese taking a little stroll down stream from the pond in our backyard. so south carolina!

my south carolina room

2009-06-09T18:06:00.000-07:00

the view outside my bedroom window

my dresser and mirror

my awesome, comfy bed

for those who requested a picture of me

2009-06-06T05:01:00.000-07:00

this is the only pic i have of me in DC. i'll try to be more pro-active about taking pics with me in them. for now...

mommy...i'm hungry!

2009-06-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

here i go, binge blogging again. but, kind of a lot has happened this last week. not the least of which was my second trip in two weeks up to DC to see the poelmans. i can't help it. i love them too much to stay away. during my trip, i was privlidged enough to witness the little man eating his third solid meal. he caught on really quickly. it's the cutest thing ever.

let the good times roll

2009-06-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

this is just a taste of maddog's incredibly loveable personality. he was spending some alone time in his crib watching his mobile, and alexis and i went over to play with him for a bit. he thought alexis' "boo's" were the funniest thing he'd ever seen. seriously, i can't get enough of that smile or that laugh!

growing up

2009-05-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

i've never been one for wearing lots of makeup. but, i've decided that it's about time i started being grown up. and, let's be honest, an artist is only as good as her tools. i decided to invest in some good brushes. here's what i found. i have to say, i'm enjoying the whole process much more than i thought i would. (thanks to tirza and hadas...my inspiration)

ahh, southern pride

2009-05-25T17:42:00.000-07:00

this isn't the best picture, but i thought everyone would enjoy seeing the confederate flag that flies in front of the state capital here in columbia. long live the confederacy...or not.

my favorite building in columbia

2009-05-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

my new home

2009-05-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

on my way home from the gym this morning, i started thinking about all the things i like about south carolina. i was surprised at how many i came up with after only living here for a week. i thought i would share my list. here it is...so far...in no particular order:

1. the view out of my bedroom window is green.
2. i can drive with my windows down, because, despite the humidity, it's still in the 70's here.
3. the gym is only 5 minutes from my house. it's brand new and has a cardio movie theater room. i watched transformers while i ran this morning.
4. i can shop at the farmer's market all the time for fresh fruit and veggies.
5. strangers have conversations with each other at places like the car wash and the grocery store.
6. anna lives here.
7. our roommate aimee is super duper cool, but likes to keep it on the DL, so don't tell anyone.
8. no matter where i drive, i inevitably cross a river.
9. they have a grocery store called publix with tons and tons of organic food.
10. i can go to the beach whenever i want. (going on monday for memorial day)
11. there are lots of tiny theaters downtown that put on amazing plays.
12. it's distinctly southern; ie: the confederate flag flies proudly in front of the state capital.
13. my roommates have DVR. watching TV is so much better sin commercials.
14. my street looks like something out of steel magnolias.
15. it's relatively close to DC. i'm already planning another trip up there.

babysitting

2009-05-17T19:15:00.000-07:00

while i was in DC, alexis had a hair appointment. so...i got to babysit the little man! it was so much fun, eventhough he was on a sleep strike. we had a great time playing and laughing. he's such a sweet little boy. he loves to smile. he loves to laugh. here's some proof:

the cutest baby in the world

2009-05-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

and the award goes to. . .

moving day

2009-05-04T19:41:00.000-07:00

well, it took me about 3 days to go through my stuff and decide what to take and what to leave and pack up my room. i stressed about fitting everything in my truck. but...when all was said and done...i fit everything i packed into the back of my yukon. the whole back seat is empty. you go girl!

so, i'm off on another adventure tomorrow morning. i'll be driving 2200 miles across the bottom half of the u.s. i'm so excited for my cross-country drive. it's something i've always wanted to do. we're driving across 10 states! woo hoo! nanny goat is coming with me and big t is meeting us in oklahoma.

here's the plan:
day 1: las vegas to albuqueque, nm (585 miles)
day 2: albuquerque, nm to oklahoma city, ok (548 miles)
day 3: oklahoma city, ok to birmingham, al (700 miles)
day 4: birmingham, al to columbia, sc (360 miles)

see ya'll later! (i'm practicing)

on being sick

2009-04-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

despite my best efforts, i remain a binge blogger. i imagine that i will contine to be. today, i am writing from my couch. i have a box a kleenex by my side and a trash can on the floor. i feel like i'm going to die, all stuffy, running and sore. we'll blame it on maiyah. she was sick for the last week. i've been lucky though, this is really the first time i've been super sick in about a year. i guess i'll take it.

meanwhile, i am putting together a frame of pictures of the fam. it's been empty for about three years, decided it was time. so, when i get off of the couch and finish the frame, i'll post a pic for all of you to see your beautiful faces.

until then...

my mom was right!

2009-02-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

even though people harrass me about not having a microwave in the house and make fun of me when i heat up my left-overs in a pan, i trusted and supported my mom's 15 year crusade against the microwave. turns out, she was right. she's so ahead of her time! the doctors are just catching up to her. thanks mom!

Cancer Update from John Hopkins and Walter Reed Army Medical Center

No plastic containers in microwave.
No water bottles in freezer.
No plastic wrap in microwave.
A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.

Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers.

This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body.

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food... You get the same results, only without the dioxin So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.

He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food.

Cover food with a paper towel instead.

under where?

2009-02-18T15:40:00.000-08:00

my daily trip to the gym this morning was spicier than usual. as i came up the stairs to the cardio room, i saw a old man, not unlike the guy in this picture, coming toward me. unfortunately, unlike the one in the picture, the old man at the gym wasn't wearing any pants. seriously. he was wearing a white t-shirt and black underwear. i almost died. luckily, i made it past him without laughing out loud. miracle.

weekly disappointments and accomplishments

2009-02-11T09:26:00.000-08:00

i have this habit of watching sportscenter and/or espn's first take in the morning while i'm running. i put in my headphones and switch my personal mini tv on the treadmill to espn; instantly, i'm in my own little world. combined with the endorphins, it's quite theraputic. however, i've encountered a little problem in my nirvana: i have no one to express my opinions to about the amazing/extremely ridiculous stuff i see on espn. so, i've decided to write a weekly list of the good, the bad, and the ugly of morning sports news. i know, i know, you're all thrilled!

accomplishments:

TROY AIKMAN went back to UCLA this semester and finished his last two classes in order to graduate with a degree in sociology 20 years after leaving to play for the NFL. way to go troy! chalk one up for the importance of education...even if you're a bazillionaire hall of famer.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ admitted to taking steriods while he was in texas and gave the most candid interview i've ever seen from an athlete accused of using. props. i hope this signals a change for baseball's best.
PACKMAN JONES is finally being released by the dallas cowboys. his violent behavior toward his bodyguard and women is shameful, and i don't think he should be playing anywhere until he gets that "alcohol" problem under control.

disappointments:

BRETT FAVRE is retiring...again. seriously, brett? i'm a huge fan, always have been. but i can't take it anymore. don't you think maybe you should take the off-season to think about it? you know you're going to change your mind again in march.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ admitted to taking steriods, and while i gave him props in the accompishments, he also must be mentioned here for his excuse that everyone was using. probably not true. and, i wonder, a-rod, are you only admitting your use in texas, because they haven't caught you in new york yet?
MICHAEL VICK is being released from prision sooner than expected, and espn reports that there is a market for him. teams are actually talking about signing him, if and when he gets released from that indefinite suspension put in place by the league. WHAT?!? he's in PRISION people, PRISION! how 'bout we don't just throw him back out there for little boys to worship. disgraceful.

por fin

2009-02-10T16:33:00.000-08:00

ok ladies...you asked for it:

oatmeal

2009-02-07T20:28:00.000-08:00

"my brain is like oatmeal! i yelled at kenny the other day for coloring outside the lines. me and megan are starting to watch the same tv shows, and i'm liking 'em. i'm losin' it!" -Mr. Mom

this is how i feel. my brain is slowly, but surely, turning to mush. i'm afraid that i don't have a literary brain cell that's still alive. and...i have to write a paper for pca this month. right.

coming to my senses

2009-02-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

ok. ok. so, my hair crisis really isn't all that bad. i do love my hair. and, i decided last night that i just need to grow out my layers (like chelsea said) so that my hair looks like this (except deep red and dark brown):

ah, hair

2009-02-04T11:55:00.000-08:00

frankly, one of my favorite things in the whole world is getting my hair done. i love the smell. i love the feeling. i love the results (like you just stepped out of a salon). yesterday was one of those lucky days.

so...i'm in love with the color, a sort of wine red violet color. ahhh. and, the cut is exactly what i wanted. (chelsea, you're amazing) but, recently, i have been in hair crisis, and i don't think i'm out of the woods yet. i feel bored with my hair. maybe it's because it's too long. or, maybe it's because i'm trying to do the complete opposite of what i had before. or, maybe it's just because i need to be in crisis about something manageable.

i'm thinking of cutting it all off. or maybe this. . .

blogging habits

2009-02-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

i've figured out that i'm a binge blogger. i like to blog my whole month all at once, and then i get burned out and don't blog again for a long long time. i'm determined to stop this cycle and blog all the time, if only to meet tirza's challenge and out-blog her!

why i don't live in alaska

2009-01-05T15:00:00.001-08:00

yes, it says -62. what?

hopes and dreams

2008-12-27T13:29:00.000-08:00

my dad and i took an afternoon and went to the air and space museum. it was one of my favorite days in DC.

WWII Planes
America's P51-D

Britian's Spitfire MK.VII Germany's Mersserschmitt 109
Japan's Zero

happy christmas

2008-12-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

clearly, the focus this christmas was alexis' fully cooked bun. we are all in love with him...alexis and mike are only slightly concerned that one of us might steal him from them. it was a miracle that any of us got on the plane to come back.

ulysses s.

2008-12-25T12:16:00.000-08:00

we took a little tour of the ulysses s. grant monument on christmas morning. unexpectedly, it was one of the cooler monuments we saw while in DC.

tirza at her best

2008-12-25T12:04:00.000-08:00

because the family got a trip to DC and a new nephew/grandson for christmas, we decided to give the parents a break on gift giving this year. we each picked one gift...tirza had a hard time deciding. this is why we love her!

christmas eve with lincoln

2008-12-24T23:22:00.000-08:00

we had an unconventional christmas this year. we spent the holiday in DC waiting for alexis to have her baby. he came just in time for christmas. while the new grandparents were at the hospital, tirza, hadas, maiyah, and i went to see president lincoln. it was cold, rainy, and beautiful. a christmas eve to remember.

welcome to the world baby poelman!

2008-12-23T15:52:00.000-08:00

she's crafty

2008-11-13T13:58:00.000-08:00

i spent last night getting crafty with devra hollis. look at what i made! i'm so proud of me!

the application

2008-11-12T12:32:00.000-08:00

for those of you wondering how to apply for the travel buddy position, here it is:

do you make me laugh?
if yes:
do you like to explore new places?
if yes:
do you prefer to be in nature rather than in a city?
if yes:
do you love eating fresh fruit, warm bread, and cheese?
if yes:
do/are you like ice cream?
if yes:
you're in.

from one fan to another

2008-11-10T11:48:00.000-08:00

you have to check this out. it will make you cry.

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200809303364800

europe, exactly.

2008-11-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

In Heaven:
The cooks are French,
The policemen are English,
The mechanics are German,
The lovers are Italian,
The bankers are Swiss.

In Hell:
The cooks are English,
The policemen are German,
The mechanics are French,
The lovers are Swiss,
The bankers are Italian.

ah, politics

2008-11-06T10:39:00.000-08:00

in celebration of the spirit of november:

DEMOCRAT
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
You feel guilty for being successful.
You push for higher taxes so the government can provide cows for everyone.

REPUBLICAN
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
So?

SOCIALIST
You have two cows.
The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.
You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.

COMMUNIST
You have two cows.
The government seizes both and provides you with milk.
You wait in line for hours to get it.
It is expensive and sour.

CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.

BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
Under the new farm program the government pays you to shoot one, milk the other, and then pours the milk down the drain.

AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one.
You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows.
You are surprised when one cow drops dead.
You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses.
Your stock goes up.

FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.
You go to lunch and drink wine.
Life is good.

JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.
They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains.
Most are at the top of their class at cow school.

GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You engineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour.
Unfortunately they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.

ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows but you don't know where they are.
You break for lunch.
Life is good.

RUSSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have some vodka.
You count them and learn you have five cows.
You have some more vodka.
You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have.

TALIBAN CORPORATION
You have all the cows in Afghanistan, which are two.
You don't milk them because you cannot touch any creature's private parts.
You get a $40 million grant from the US government to find alternatives to milk production but use the money to buy weapons.

IRAQI CORPORATION
You have two cows.
They go into hiding.
They send radio tapes of their mooing.

POLISH CORPORATION
You have two bulls.
Employees are regularly maimed and killed attempting to milk them.

BELGIAN CORPORATION
You have one cow.
The cow is schizophrenic.
Sometimes the cow thinks he's French, other times he's Flemish.
The Flemish cow won't share with the French cow.
The French cow wants control of the Flemish cow's milk.
The cow asks permission to be cut in half.
The cow dies happy.

FLORIDA CORPORATION
You have a black cow and a brown cow.
Everyone votes for the best looking one.
Some of the people who actually like the brown one best accidentally vote for the black one.
Some people vote for both.
Some people vote for neither.
Some people can't figure out how to vote at all.
Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which one you think is the best-looking cow.

CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
You have millions of cows.
They make real California cheese.
Only five speak English.
Most are illegal.
Arnold likes the ones with the big udders.

inspiration

2008-11-05T10:23:00.000-08:00

dc in the fall

2008-11-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

i spent the last week in washington, d.c. with lex and mike. what a great time! i'd never been there before, and i fell in love with the city, despite the cold! brrrr! now, i've got this itch to move there (shh don't tell). i spent most of my time hanging out with alexis and the bun, so i didn't take many pics, but here are some of the lady with a baby. don't hate her because she's beautiful...and still fits into her regular jeans at 7.5 months pregnant!

sunset over dc

me...bundled

belated posting

2008-11-01T23:03:00.000-07:00

so...these are things that i've been meaning to post about, but i've been slacking. so, rather than make you all sift through my archives, i'm posting it all in one...and one for all.

1: sarah jenkins and her wonderful humor. she sent this to me a while ago, and i loved it. i think i may be missing grad school more than i'd like to admit. (hint: if you click on the image it's easier to read.)

2: bailey's first bday. maiyah and i got him some treats and new toys. lucky puppy.

3: smart baby...with skull headphones. if i remember correctly, they were pumping mozart into the belly.

4: daddy does cookies. i came into the kitchen a couple of weeks ago at 8pm to my dad making chocolate chip cookies all by himself. i had to snap some pics. i laughed until i tried one: the best cookies i've had since my gramma died. it's in the blood!

5: alexis and mike came to visit in the summertime. here are the highlights.

the beach

maddux and the san diego padres

usa vs. canada

when pumpkins drink

2008-10-31T10:17:00.001-07:00

spain

2008-10-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

i'm now taking applications for a travel buddy to my 10-year mission reunion in madrid, spain. don't miss out! 'ole!

ding dong

2008-10-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

i'm not sure what sound a cowbell makes, but ding dong is as close as i can come. i'm on the rays' bandwagon...blue mohawks, cowbells and all. my reasons:

i hate the phillies...especially victorino.
i'm all about the underdog.
i dug matt garza's press conference (and his attitude) when he discussed his convo on the mound with his manager, joe maddon. check it out: http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3652925
i love maddon's glasses and that he looks like gene hackman.
i think it's rad that their entire starting pitching staff is under 26 years old.
i hate the phillies...especially victorino, again.

so, go rays!

and there it goes

2008-10-16T10:53:00.001-07:00

our excitement over the dodgers post season was short lived. they lost to philli last night after a 4-1 series. so sad. but, greg maddux did get to pitch for an inning and two-thirds, which was fantastic (no thanks to furcal who had 3 errors, which led to 2 runs in the inning). eventhough it's over, i still bleed blue and can't wait for next year. don't worry: when frank mccourt calls and asks me what to do with manny i'm going to tell him to keep him in LA!

until next spring. . .

LAD 3, CHC 1

2008-10-06T11:22:00.001-07:00

the boys in blue pulled out a broom and swept the cubs for a first class ticket to the NLCS! next stop: philli.

LAD 10, CHC 3

2008-10-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

game 2. check.

LAD 7, CHC 2

2008-10-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

thanks to manny and co, we're one up on chicago. i feel a little torn, because i am a cubs fan too, but loney's grand salami was beautiful to watch. maddux even closed the game. as the slogan says: i live for this! go dodgers!

yoda knows it all

2008-09-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

maiyah and i watched the original star wars trilogy this week. cliche though it may be...wise yoda is.

“Size matters not, ... Look at me. Judge me by size, do you?”
“[Luke:] I can’t believe it. [Yoda:] That is why you fail.”
“Do or do not... there is no try.”
“Named must your fear be before banish it you can.”
“Always moving the future is.”

dream on baby

2008-09-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

while living on a sailboat and cruising around the south pacific is still rather high on my priority list, i've decided that buying a mastercraft x14 is higher. can't beat that feeling of cutting through glassy water behind a ski boat. why not dream big?

i'm back

2008-09-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

after what feels like years of not wanting to do anything, i'm starting to get the itch to travel again. it's sort of like that feeling when your body slowly warms up after being outside in the cold.

gradually, i'm having the desire to go out and do things again. so, i'm going to get serious about this amazing race thing. i've wanted to do it for years, and it's about time i just did it. a new season just started...so, i'm thinking next year. don't be surprised if you turn on your tv one day and see me trying to walk on stilts in lithuania. get ready, anna. you're my ticket to the big time!

national league west division champs

2008-09-26T13:02:00.001-07:00

the dodgers clinched the division last night with an arizona loss. although we lost to peavy...again...the celebration after the game was so worth staying up for!
look out world series, here come the dodgers!!

my trip to LA with maiyah in august

2008-09-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

it was her first time at dodger stadium, and we sat 6 rows from the field. great seats. great dogs. great game.

learning

2008-09-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

orson f. whitney's response to "invictus" helps me to remember that i'm not always in control, and that's ok.

INVICTUS
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of Circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of Chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

THE SOUL’S CAPTAIN
Art thou in truth? Then what of him
Who bought thee with his blood?
Who plunged into devouring seas
And snatched thee from the flood?

Who bore for all our fallen race
What none but him could bear.—
The God who died that man might live,
And endless glory share?

Of what avail thy vaunted strength,
Apart from his vast might?
Pray that his Light may pierce the gloom,
That thou mayest see aright.

Men are as bubbles on the wave,
As leaves upon the tree.
Thou, captain of thy soul, forsooth!
Who gave that place to thee?

Free will is thine—free agency,
To wield for right or wrong;
But thou must answer unto him
To whom all souls belong.

Bend to the dust that head “unbowed,”
Small part of Life's great whole!
And see in him, and him alone,
The Captain of thy soul.

new hair goal

2008-09-25T09:19:00.000-07:00

i've decided that i'm tired of bangs. or, maybe it's just that i'm tired of trying to make them do what i want. alexis mentioned jennifer anniston's grown out bangs, and i did some research. so...here's what i want my new hair to look like:

my newest passion

2008-09-19T14:53:00.001-07:00

the rumor is true. i have become obsessed with family history. much to maiyah's frustration, it's all i can talk about, think about, work on. i have found an amazing connection with my dad's ancestors. his mother's paternal side comes from the netherlands, and his mother's maternal side from austria. i have read stories of many family members' journey to and settling of america. amazing people. so, cheers to my heritage...here are some pics.

HAAKSBERGEN, NETHERLANDS

BOHEMIA, AUSTRIA

hello mr. wade

2008-09-19T14:13:00.001-07:00

this is a little late in coming, but it's so good that it's worth waiting for: dwaye wade took it to canada, and i caught it on film. lucky me!

eyelash update

2008-09-19T14:13:00.000-07:00

Week 2: No new sprouts. Slightly worried. Still hopeful.

Week 3: Manifesting new sprouts. When i look in my car visor mirror, i swear i see more lashes than were there a week ago. But...that could be due to two things: car mirrors tend to show things closer (and perhaps thicker) than they appear and i'm getting nervous that my eye shall remain bare until i die.

Week 4: I asked for confirmation. Sade says my eyelashes are, in fact, growing back. Yes! There are a few that are actually at regualr length. Other than that, there are a few that seem to be growing also. Still, quite a bit of exposed skin on my little, sad lid. Till next week....

Week...i have no idea because it's been too long...happy to report that, yes, indeed, my lashes grew back completely. They're looking good!

sisterly love

2008-04-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

i love my sisters, each of them for different reasons and in different ways. today...i love alexis for putting the following quote on her "quote of the day" post on the 6th of March 2008. i would say that it most closely defines my attitude about life.

so, thank you alexis, and thank you mark twain.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream." –Mark Twain

a question

2008-04-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

what is it about getting in touch with old friends that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

your mother was right

2008-04-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

eyelashes are apparently very fragile things. last friday, i ripped out half of my eyelashes on one eye on accident. something involving a car, a dip, and an eyelash curler. i will spare you the gruesome details.

naturally, the first thing i did was call my mom. she says they grow back...it only takes about 2 months. so ladies, be gentle with those little hairs.

tis the season

2008-04-08T11:31:00.001-07:00

hello world. i am now a part of blogland. i feel it only proper that i enter with celebration of baseball season opening. nothing like the smell of hotdogs, grass, summer, and the drunk guy sitting next to you. go dodgers!