Virtual insanity-Christmas style

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Simply having a wonderful Christmas time

So Christmas is one week away and I'm constantly reminded why this is truly my favorite time of year. An everflowing amount of cookies, cakes, and other sweets; visits from friends who I don't normally get to see often; the general attitude of good cheer in the air, and of course, Christmas music. I know many people despise Christmas music, but I really look forward to listening to it during the entire month of December--it really does help me get into the holiday spirit! Here are a few CDs that I'd especially recommend:

Josh Groban- Noel




James Taylor- At Christmas



Harry Connick Jr. - Harry For the Holidays



Diana Krall- Christmas Songs




And of course, the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack

Must have done something right

Saw Switchfoot and Relient K in concert at UCD last night. David and I were talking about how we felt proud that our alma mater was hosting a show with two of our favorite bands...very cool indeed. The show was very high energy and included a short Christmas set by Relient K, complete with Santa Claus himself (picture below) and a bunch of fake snow dropping down from the ceiling. While I felt Switchfoot had a shorter set than usual, I enjoyed the sincere intensity that Jon, Tim, Chad, Jerome, and Andrew put into ever song...highlights for me were "Awakening" and "Dare you to Move".

Surprisingly, one of the best parts of the entire show was Matt Thiessen from Relient K performing a sweet little ditty that he wrote in homage to one of TV's best shows: "The Office". The whole crowd was laughing hysterically. Check it out (lyrics below)




"I Love 'The Office' " by Matt Thiessen

Micheal Scott, Pam and Jim
You got me glued to my television
Angela, you're way too cute
To be messing around with someone like Dwight Schrute
Relient K and the football hall of fame are from Canton (Ohio)
Won't someone please, transfer us to Scranton?

with all of my symphonies, in 24 parts

Twenty-four years on this planet...and I find myself in a pretty darn good place. I have a husband who loves me, family who loves me, friends who love me, and most importantly, a God who loves me and shows His love through all the people mentioned above. Year #23 was a year with it's ups and downs. I was exposed to several people in my life experiencing illness, and through these experiences I have gained a new perspective on how God is always with us in times of struggle, but that does not mean the struggle will instantly go away. I also attended a multitude of weddings during the last year and watched so many dear friends enter into marriage. I got to see my brother further pursue his dream of being a filmmaker by being part of a USC film program this summer. I have seen how my parent's have become happier after getting another dog (and I have loved being Milo's auntie!). I have continued to ponder my career path, and then have also been challenged with the concept that our main occupation on Earth is to be lovers of God and lovers of people, and whatever we do to pay the bills is secondary (this comes from reading Shane Claiborne's The Irresistible Revolution...amazing book). I look forward to year #24 and all that the next 365 days have to offer.

On the streets of Philadelphia

The second stop of our trip was the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. After a long ride on the Greyhound from DC (we sat for about 90 minutes in gridlock traffic), we arrived at our adorable bed and breakfast. We then asked the owner for a recommendation of the nearest location of where we could find authentic Philly cheesesteaks. He directed us to Jim's Steaks on South Street, only a 15 minute walk away. We were both starving, and hurriedly power-walked over to Jim's, both salivating. We were not disappointed. I wolfed down my sandwich (and it must have been a foot long!) and almost wanted to order a second, but then realized that I might regret that decision later on in the evening, so I abstained. By golly, Philly cheesesteaks are a simple yet amazing combination of thinly sliced steak right off the grill, with slices of provolone cheese (or American cheese, your choice) on a long roll. That's it, no vegetables or special sauces or other such nonsense. Just meat, cheese, and bread.....and really, that's all you need. Ok, moving on from my cheesesteak obsession.
Besides the cheesesteaks, I have to admit I wasn't that impressed with Philadelphia initially. The area we walked around in South Street was kind of shady, I felt that one in every seven stores there was a kinky sex shop. So we headed back to our B&B and called it a night. The next day though helped my attitude towards Philly take a total 180.
The next morning, we walked to the Old City Historical District. This included Independence Hall, where if you recall your US history, was where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where the Constitutional Convention took place. We then saw the Liberty Bell and I was surprised at how small it is in real life. We also walked to the cemetry where Ben Franklin is buried and strolled down Elferth's Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited residential neighborhood in the United States, it's first tenants began living there in the early 1700's. My first impressions of Philly were quickly replaced with a great appreciation for a city with a rich historical background and a desire to share that history with others. Even though our time in Philly was brief, I'm glad we were able to see most of the historical sights that we wanted to see. Being in Phildelphia helped me to get a glimpse of why this city was the birthplace of American democracy, at least in many aspects.

Capitol city

Since having one gigantic post about each city we visited on our trip would be a daunting task to write, I'm going to split up each city into a different post.

The first stop of our trip was Washington, D.C. We flew into our nation's capitol on September 11th, and yes, I had a small tinge of anxiety while boarding the plane as I thought about a repeat terrorist attack. Then I realized I was being silly and was more likely to die in a car accident on my way home from work. Anyhow, upon our arrival in DC, we could feel the wonderful East Coast humidity upon stepping off the plane. I pondered how I would need to buy some hair defrizzer. Luckily, for the rest of our time there it wasn't humid at all!

I had been to DC before on an 8th grade trip, but I remember being too busy having a crush on some guy to really take in all that the city has to offer. This time around, David and I really tried to do as much as possible in our 4 days there and I feel that we succeeded. Of course, you could spend a few weeks in DC and still not see everything (I mean, there are 15 Smithsonian museums alone to visit!) but we gave it our best shot. Highlights included:

-tours of the White House, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and US Capitol Building (we set this up through our congressman and I would highly recommend doing so if you ever go)
-National Air and Space Museum
-National Portrait Gallery
-National Postal Museum
-National Zoo (we saw the baby panda!)
-National Archives
-eating Ethiopian food in the Adams-Morgan neighborhood
-visiting Georgetown
-discovering an amazing pizza place in Dupont Circle, Pizzeria Paradiso
-Arlington Cemetery and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
-National Cathedral
-night visit to the Jefferson Memorial
-day visits to the Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial and Vietnam Memorial

I also tried to keep a journal of our trip and failed miserably, only chronicling the first two days. But it is below in case you're interested in reading a more detailed account. Overall, DC was my second-favorite city we visited, next to NYC. It has such a unique vibe and isn't quite as crazy and frantic as New York. I look forward to going back eventually and hopefully being able to spend more time there.

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September 12th

Our first full day in DC was indeed a full one, as we were gone from our hotel a full 13 hours before returning. We saw the original Constitution and Declaration of Independence at the National Archives and it gave me goosebumps thinking that I was inches away form the very document that our Founding Fathers signed back when idea of America as a democratic nation was a small inkling in their minds. Now over 230 years have passed and we can stare at these documents that held the concepts that would be the basis for our country...it sure makes you feel patriotic. We also toured the White House and the Capitol building which were both good tours. We even saw President Bush's dog, Barney, out walking himself in the White House garden!

I really enjoyed all the different areas of DC we saw today---downtown, Dupont Circle, Adams-Morgan area, and a little bit of the U Street Corridor. All of these places have a unique feel and I love walking down the street and seeing all the old architecture. It causes my mind to wander, thinking about who occupied these same buildings 100 years ago and how much has changed since then.

Our evening was also quite memorable for two reasons: 1) I tried Ethiopian food for the first time....I'll definitely be having this again upon returning to CA and 2) we came upon an AWESOME jazz ensemble playing on the corner of the roundabout of Dupont Circle that was made up of mostly trombones, a tuba, and a snare drum. There was also an adorable 7 year old kid playing the cymbals. They sounded like they had been transplanted right out of New Orleans because their music had that distinctive Dixieland jazz sound. These guys were good, and not just good for people playing on the street, but just good period. David and I stood entranced until we realized it was almost 11 and we needed to get to bed. I love these random moments, the moments that cause you to enjoy the little things in life. Anyway, off to another exciting day of museum hopping tomorrow!

September 13th

My legs are even sorer today after many miles more walking than I'm used to doing at home. There's just so much to see here and my legs can't keep up it seems. First, we went to the top of the Washington Monument, which gave a nice view of all of DC. We then went on to explore our first Smithsonian museum today--Museum of Air and Space. I'll admit that my favorite exhibit had nothing to do with either air or space but rather 'National Treasures of American History", an exhibit which is temporarily up while the American History museum is being remodeled. In this section, you could view such cultural icons as the ruby slippers used in the production of "Wizard or Oz" or Louis Armstrong's coronet. However, the items that made the biggest impression on me were Lincoln's top hat (the very one he was wearing when he was shot) and George Washington's military uniform. Again, a large wave of nostalgia rushed over me while staring at these two pieces of clothing that were worn by two of the most remarkable presidents this country has ever had. I began to contemplate how this top hat and this uniform that were right in front of me had been worn during some of America's milestone moments---such as the delivery of the Emancipation Proclamation or the Battle of Valley Forge. But contemplations like these can't last long here if you want to see everything in 3 1/2 days, which is why I wish we could have more time here to fully soak in the historical richness of everything.

We also went on a tour of the Supreme Court, which was interesting but not as in depth as I would have liked, and the Library of Congress, which was surprisingly more interesting than I thought it would be. Who knew that it held 130 million items, including 30 million books, 2.7 million sound recordings, and 6,000 comic books?

The day ended with MORE delicious pizza at Pizzeria Paradiso and then a night walk to the Jefferson Memorial. If only the memorials were closer together! I had hoped to also see the Lincoln memorial, but that will have to wait until tomorrow night, since my feet couldn't talk any more abuse. I look forward to our last full day in DC tomorrow.

Back.

All I can say is, too much to post, yet too little time! Our vacation was amazing, but not at all relaxing...traveling to four different cities in two weeks was both exhilarating and exhausting. I had different impressions of all four cities--DC, Philly, New York City, and Boston--and I hope to post my thoughts soon. Overall, I come back to the West Coast full of a new sense of wonder at the history of our country. From visiting the field where the first shot of the American Revolution was fired to walking on the same steps where Martin Luther King gave his "I Have A Dream" speech to going to the church where George Washington prayed right after being inaugurated, I come back motivated to learn even more about these events that shaped what America is today. I find this quote to be quite fitting:

"History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future."
~Robert Penn Warren

More posts to come soon after I'm done with all my post-vacation activities of unpacking, etc.

vacation countdown

In t-minus 3 days, 10 hours, and 6 minutes (but really, who's counting?)...we are leaving on vacation to the East Coast!! David and I are major planners when it comes to vacations; therefore, we have been planning aspects of our trip, like booking flights and hotels, since FEBRUARY. So this vacation has felt like a long time coming and I really can't wait to stand under the Lincoln Memorial in DC, see a Broadway show in NYC, gorge myself on a cheese steak in Philly, and walk the Freedom Trail in Boston. For two glorious weeks we are packing our bags and seeing what America's like on the other coast. So. excited.

Rats in Paris, African dictators, and trouble in Iran

During the last few days, the temperature here has been slightly less than what it might feel like in hell. In my opinion, going outside isn't really an option. So what's left to do? Enjoy the AC in your home while watching a good flick. Here are some movies that I've seen lately that I'd recommend:


Not Without My Daughter - I forget how I heard about this movie, but was interested enough to put it on my Netflix queue. Although the overall production value of this movie felt more like a 'made-for-TV' movie than a film shown in theaters, the story still held my attention, mainly because it is based on true events. It centers on Betty (Sally Field), a woman married to Moody (Alfred Molina), an Iranian doctor who has been in America for 13 years. They have one younger daughter. Upon losing his job due to what Moody believes are the racist attitudes of the hospital towards Iranians, Moody decides it is time to revisit his family in Iran, who he has not seen in quite some time. Betty is reluctant, but decides to go. From here, it is pretty obvious that things will go sour upon arriving in Iran (and they do), but Sally Field's performance as a bewildered mother trapped in a country that gives her no parental rights to her daughter is so believable that it covers over the cheesy overtones of forewarning. The fact that this movie is based on a true story is the only reason I'd recommend it.

The Last King of Scotland
Like "Blood Diamond" and "Hotel Rwanda", this is another movie that shows a dark and sinister side of Africa's recent history. Based on a book by the same name, it focuses on the rise of infamous Ugandan president/dictator Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker) and his fictional relationship with a young Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan, who has initially come to Uganda seeking adventure. Through a series of events, Garrigan is enticed into becoming Amin's personal physician and eventually, even his personal advisor. Even though Garrigan's character was created solely for the book/film, the portrayal of Idi Amin is still based completely in truth. Forest Whitaker won a Best Actor for this film and his performance captured the violent insanity of this dictator. At parts, it's a hard movie to watch, but definitely worth it.

Ratatouille
Now, on to lighter subjects. Like a country rat becoming a renowned chef in the culinary capital of Paris. I must say, when I first saw the teaser trailer for Pixar's newest film six months ago, I was skeptical. I was also let down by the last Pixar movie "Cars", so I was trying not to get my hopes up too much for whatever they would make next. Well, this movie may be the best cinematic experience of my summer. I couldn't stop smiling through it because as I was watching it, I realized I was watching something that will be a Disney classic, a movie that I will want my grandchildren to see. The characters are great, the visual look of the film is stunning, and the overall story is original (gasp!). Get up and go see this movie. NOW!


Some movies on our Netflix queue:

-Big Night
-Cinderella Man
-Pan's Labryinth
-The Big Chill

circle of friends

Since last posting, two more 'core group' members, Rachel and Luke have gotten married. Sometimes I get all gushy and sentimental about the fact that we--David, Luke, George, Brad, Rachel, and myself-- all met in core group (aka bible study through Davis Christian Fellowship) our freshmen year and we've all still remained friends these last six years and are still there to watch each other go through these major life events. My first fond memory with core group was driving in Rachel's Jeep after a failed attempt to see a Switchfoot show in Redding. The Relient K song "Sadie Hawkins Dance" was playing on repeat and we were all screaming along to the words in a whimsical moment of uninhibited goofiness. Then there was the time where a group of us successfully went to a Switchfoot show in Sac, got to meet the band afterwards, and then went to Krispy Kreme for a gluttonous game of "pass the doughnut". Let's just say I almost peed my pants with laughter that evening. And who could forget the New Years where we split up into two cars and made up clues in the form of rhyming riddles that led each car on a wild chase all over San Ramon. My point is not to go on and on about all of the memories I've shared with this special group of people, but rather to show how far we've come since freshmen year. We've had all these ridiculous experiences of just being stupid together, and we've also been at each other's weddings-- I think that's the gamut of a true friendship. Now the truly hilarious thing is when we all start to have kids---but let's hold on that thought for several more years ;)

girls just wanna have fun

I woke up this morning a little dazed, wondering if the events that transpired last night actually happened. And I wasn't even drinking! Kassey, Jenny, Vanessa, and I took Rachel out last night for her 'last night on the town' as a single woman before she gets hitched next weekend. I arrived late since I was at Luke's rehearsal dinner (he gets married today!) and I'm directed by Kass to meet them at Sophia's in Davis. I come to find them at a table in the middle of the bar with Rachel in a faux veil and a sash reading "bride-to-be"---classic bachelorette attire. The next hour was spent asking any guy that passed by to sign the bride (only her arms were available for signing....other places were off limits of course). We met Enrique, who claimed to be a firefighter by day and allegedly a stripper-on-request by night. We met an Irishmen who had just returned from his own honeymoon and gave a thumbs up to marriage. We met Tim, a guy who surprisingly confided in us ( upon Kassey telling him that Rachel was abstaining from sex until marriage) that he waited until he was 22 to have sex, which he felt was like 1000 years. Several guys asked Rachel if she deserved to wear white, and all of them were shocked to discover she actually was still a virgin. However, I was interested to find many of them said in a genuine tone "I totally respect that" instead of completely scoffing at the idea. Even though it seems 99% of the world isn't practicing abstinence until marriage anymore, it was refreshing to see that this is still a cherished concept for some.
While walking back to our cars, a group of three Scottish fellows begged for a ride to Jack in the Box, down a few blocks. Normally, I wouldn't be an idiot and allow 3 random guys in my car, but something about the Scottish accent is so disarming that I couldn't resist. So me, Kassey, and three drunk Scottish guys crammed into the car while they told us "the two of yous complete me" and other such gibberish. It was a hilarious memory I'll never forget. After safely transporting these jolly blokes to their greasy fast-food destination of choice, we were off to my house for ice cream, a chick flick, and more wedding talk. All in all, a fabulous evening.

everything's coming up roses

I've had a pretty spectacular week. Here's why:

-Robin and Mike's wedding was a great time. The highlight for me was feeling like I was in a scene from a musical as a group of ADX girls and some guys sang along and danced to the medley from "Grease" that the DJ played. SO fun!

-We took a quick trip down to USC before the wedding to see my brother. He's in a summer film program there, and he was telling us all about the short film he's casting for...exciting stuff!

-We got to spend time with Kate and Chris in Santa Barbara after the wedding. They even made us a "welcome" cake (funfetti!) as a surprise...how sweet is that?

-I have another short work week since we are heading down for Jenna's wedding on Friday. Wedding #2 of 6 this summer!

-And finally........I just found out that DAVID GOT MOVED TO A DAY SHIFT AT GENENTECH! After having worked the graveyard shift for over two years, it's about time! This means we'll actually get to spend our nights together instead of him being gone 4 nights out of the week. We'll be able to have a normal weekend schedule, instead of him being asleep all day on Sundays. We'll be able to take weekend trips without him having to request Saturday night off. Oh, it's going to be glorious.

So yes, I'm one happy girl at the moment. I think I could quite literally jump for joy =)

Oh say, can you see

It was quite nice to have the celebration of America's independence on a Wednesday this year.... breaking up the work week into two blocks of two days each with a day off in between is something I could most definitely get used to. We had a good old fashioned BBQ at our place today and a delicious spread of grub: hambugers, corn on the cob grilled with butter and garlic powder, baked beans, mango margaritas (thanks Browns!), fresh guacamole with chips (thanks Blaines!), and Jello cake. It was an ideal mix of good conversation, Scattegories, and gorging on food.
The Davis fireworks show ended the evening and was actually pretty impressive. Before the show, the mayor had everyone stand up and sing the national anthem and it was really cool to hear everyone singing along to a song that was written so long ago in a different era, yet it still instills the same sense of pride in being a citizen of this country. Over the past few days, I've had several conversations with people about some of our nation's biggest problems (the war in Iraq, health care crisis, the state of the education system, etc.) and yet I need to remember that even though America DOES has some major flaws to fix, we at least have the freedom and opportunity here to fix them.
So happy birthday America, my country 'tis of thee.

constant motion

I've been wanting to post something of actual depth on here, rather than just a few sentences, but life has just gotten in the way I suppose. So the catalyst for me actually writing this entry was receiving my first traffic ticket today (I guess you actually need to make a complete STOP at a stop sign, who knew?). I need some kind of distraction from realizing I will have to throw $180 down the tubes for this error of mine....and blogging is indeed a dandy tool of distraction.

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A week ago, thousands of students graduated from UC Davis. I helped out at two campus commencement ceremonies as a staff volunteer, and as I watched all the graduates anxiously line up to walk across the stage and receive their diploma, I couldn't help but reflect on how much has happened since I walked across that same stage two years ago. Marriage, buying a house, deaths in the family, friends getting pregnant, all the health issues with my mom, and getting a new family dog. However, I also realized how much has stayed the same in those two years---having a majority of my close friends live around the Sac area, seeing my parents almost more than I did when in college, and working on the campus of my alma mater. I wonder if this is a reflection of being resistant to or scared of moving on. My thoughts go back and forth on this question. Why wouldn't I want to be near my community of friends and family? Why not take advantage of having the easy career transition from being a student to being staff on a campus that I love?
But then a part of me wonders if I am just sheltering myself from growing up and expanding my horizons. Do I lead too stable of a life? IS there such a thing as having too much security? What is it I really want to do as a career and am I just stalling this discovery by working on campus? I know I'm just adding to the chorus that a million other twenty-somethings in America are singing. But I can't help it.
Don't get me wrong, most days I'm completely satisfied with my life circumstances. But then there are those moments that I daydream about what it would be like if David and I threw all caution and responsibility aside and moved to the East Coast for a year. Or if we took an unpaid sabbatical from work to go on a summer-long mission trip to Africa. But I'm quickly jolted out of this line of thinking when I remember how we have been blessed with owning a home, which requires a little something called paying a mortgage. There's not quite as much room for spontaneity when that house payment is due every month.
So through my conflicting feelings of how much has changed or hasn't changed, I ultimately want to remain thankful for the life I lead while also remaining open to the life that is waiting for me on the not too distant horizon.

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On a completely non-philosophical note, I have completed the School of Rock sampler I promised myself I would make. It is a 3 disc customized compilation of my favorite influential artists and songs that were covered in the History of Rock class I audited. Just as I think it is important for all Americans to be educated in the major events of our nation's history, I feel it is just as necessary to be educated in the music that has served as an integral soundtrack to some of these major events over the last 50 years. In my mind, you can't separate the massive backlash against the Vietnam War from Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" or the feminist movement of the 1960's from Aretha Franklin's "Think" or "Respect". This mix is my meager means of trying to spread a (very) condensed version of musical education to the masses. If you would like a copy, all I request is that you give me blank CD's and I'd be happy to burn it for you.

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My brother, Steve, has officially started his 2 month film program at USC! I am so proud (and jealous) of him! Want to get his perspective on being a complete newcomer to the film industry? Go to his blog here.

Alright folks, time to try to be somewhat productive today. Peace.

A battle of unusual proportions

I just witnessed the third annual Epic Quad Battle. It was a glorious example of why I enjoy working on campus. Where else could I experience such things?

a week in the life

Things I'm excited about this week:
-the '24' season finale
- the LOST season finale
-going to see Harry Connick, Jr. on Thursday night
-the "School of Rock" lecture on 80's music
-watching the American Idol finale with Bronween
-the upcoming 3-day weekend

Things I'm not excited about:
-the cold it seems like I'm developing


Well, at least the good outweigh the bad =)

nothing's ever black or white

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you did not watch Grey's Anatomy tonight.

So who else thought that tonight's season finale of Grey's was totally depressing? It was like a downward spiral of hopelessness. I know that there are supposed to be unresolved issues in a finale, but COME ON! Meredith and Derek might be over? George failed his intern's exam? Callie got chief resident instead of Bailey? Burke left Christina on their wedding day?! What the crap people......what the crap?

i'm in puppy love!

My parents just got a cavalier spaniel puppy, and now, as far as I'm concerned, all is right with the world! The little guy doesn't have a name yet, but hopefully my family will come to a consensus soon. Ok, now I'm going to get all cliche and girly: he's so cute!!!!

UPDATE: The puppy has been officially given the name Milo (my brother gets the credit for that one!)

the pursuit of knowledge

Once you are out of the college realm for a while, you come to realize how much you miss learning new things. Yes, it's nice to not have midterms and finals and papers and the other academic stresses that go along with being a college student. But the core of the academic experience---the opportunity to learn about about a new subject ---is sorely missed once that opportunity is not as readily available as it is when you're a student. At least, that's what I have discovered. Luckily, I work on a university campus which means that I can still pretend to be in 'student mode'. This means taking advantage of having UCD library privileges and auditing classes. I would say that one of the main benefits of working on campus, behind the large amount of vacation and holiday time, is being surrounded by an intellectual environment. It has inspired me to expand my knowledge of the world.

And so, I am auditing another class this spring: History of Rock Music. I love it. The lecturer is a musician from the Bronx (with the strong accent to prove it) who has toured with Sting, Simon and Garfunkel, and Madonna and has played keyboards on numerous albums. He is definitely a character and it is enjoyable just to watch his crazy antics during class. I especially enjoy when he goes into one of his recording studio stories. I feel like my musical horizons are expanding and I am in the process of creating my own "School of Rock" CD library based on this class. It will include all the Beatles albums, and select albums from other influential artists of the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's such as Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Stevie Wonder. If you'd like a mix, just let me know =)

In addition to auditing a class, I've also been trying to read more. I just finished a great book called "Freakonomics" by Steven Levitt, an economist at the University of Chicago. Basically, Levitt uses economics to explain things that seemingly have nothing to do with economics, like the secrets of the Ku Klux Klan or the structure of crack gangs. For someone like myself who was an econ. major (but is not using my major at all) it made me proud to see that Levitt is bringing economic principles to the masses in a book that is a surprisingly interesting read.

My point to this long rambling post? Never stop learning. Rent a documentary. Read a newspaper article (no, not something from PEOPLE...a real newspaper). Look up a previous President on Wikipedia and read about their administration. Join a book club. Go see a local play. Anything that involves stimulating your brain, the possibilities are endless. As educator Anthony J. D'Angelo says: " Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you'll never cease to grow."

finding refuge in chaos

"He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."
~Psalm 91:4

In times of tragedy like this, it is heartening to know that Jesus grieves with us in our suffering. My prayers go out to the Virginia Tech campus and the families of the victims.

under the sea

Last night, I heard Robert Ballard speak at the Mondavi Center and it was definitely an educational experience. Ballard is a a famous oceanographer most known for his discovery of the remains of the Titanic in 1985. However, he didn't talk much about this famous expedition because he was really excited to share about the current work he is doing in the Black Sea.

First, some background: unlike other bodies of water, the bottom of the Black Sea has low levels of oxygen due to the fact that it is a basin where the deep waters do not mix with the upper layers of water that get oxygen from the atmosphere (thank you Wikipedia!) Therefore, Ballard had an ephiphany about ten years ago where he realized that he might be able to find ancient shipwrecks preserved at the bottom of the Black Sea, since the "ocean termites" that normally feed on wood debris can not survive due to the low levels of oxygen.

To make a long story short, Ballard and his crew have gone on three expeditions since 2000 into the depths of this sea and have found remains from ancient Roman ships. He described how the remotely operated vehicles used in these expeditions came upon the wooden mast of a ship (picture to the left) that went down sometime between the 3rd and the 5th century, PERFECTLY PRESERVED. They also found wine jugs scattered along the ancient trade route that is now the bottom of the sea. And here's the kicker, Dr. Ballard said the most surprising find was a dead dolphin. He said that this dolphin wasn't found decaying, but that it too was preserved so well that it looked like it was sleeping.

So what does this mean? Well, Dr. Ballard is scheduled to go on his next expedition in the Black Sea this August, and he believes that if any crew members went down with their ships, they might be lying on the bottom of the sea along with the other debris. And he believes that these corpses, just as with the dolphin, would also be preserved so well that they would appear to be only sleeping. Can you imagine if this discovery actually happens? Just the thought of discovering the bodies (not skeletons, BODIES) of people that died in shipwrecks 1500 years ago is outrageous...could it be possible?

Ballard also talked about the concept of "ocean museums", which is essentially the idea of using virtual technology to bring the public to the sites of the Titanic, the Black Sea, etc. I was touched by this man's passion for discovery and even more important, by his passion for bringing such discoveries to the masses. Click here to learn more about his work and how you can view his expedition in August through streaming video!

why?

This song chokes me up every time.




Happy Easter =)

I am a dreamer...take me higher

I found this very cool website from another friend's blog called Imagini---basically, you choose an image that you associate with a certain word (art, music, freedom, etc.) and at the end, it gives a cool description about yourself. You can see my own results below.

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stream of consciousness

I tried to make cinnamon cookies last night. Tried being the operative word. Unfortunately, I confused baking power for baking SODA and the cookies were inedible. Like literally, David spit one out of his mouth after sampling one. Haha, so much for trying to be all domestic.

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I'm back into watching American Idol, it's just too entertaining to be missed. And I'm not necessarily referring to the contestants being entertaining, although some of them definitely have serious talent (I think Melinda is my fave so far). The entertainment for me comes from watching Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell have a verbal catfight every week, as well as watching whatever crazy antics Paula Abdul pulls. I guess it just proves the inevitable point that a crazy freak show makes for good TV.


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I love Pandora.com. I've been using this streaming radio site to create a customized station that has become like my own personal DJ during my work day. Where else would I be able to listen to Frank Sinatra, Regina Spektor, The Temptations, Keith Urban, and Jimmy Eat World all on one station? I must say, hearing my favorite compliation of artists and songs flow through my computer speakers keeps me sane during those slow afternoons in Walker Hall.


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I watched "The Last Kiss" last night while David was at a Kings game. It wasn't as terrible as several people told me it was going to be, but it was certainly a more jaded look at relationships than most Hollywood films. It left me wondering how many people in their 20's in American society go into a marriage with the firm belief that it's actually going to last for a lifetime. I think more and more couples have the "hope" that it's going to work out, but not the solid conviction that their marriage will truly be able to weather all of life's ups and downs. Which makes me realize that I must sound incredibly naive to people when I say that I know I will be with David for the rest of my days. As Zach Braff's character says in the movie, "A wedding is just...so...final." Oh, really?

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I'm hungry, off to enjoy my leftover Pluto's sandwich!

i'm so excited, i just can't hide it

Guess where I'll be May 24th? In San Francisco seeing Harry in concert!! It's been FIVE YEARS since I've seen him live. He's a brilliant performer....I can't wait!

This won't do him justice, but watch anyway:

all we are is dust in the wind

It was a good weekend because it really provided a nice escape from the stress of the last week. PF Chang's and Rick's Dessert Diner on Friday with David made for an excellent date night, something we haven't had in a while. Saturday we slept in, did some house cleaning, ran some errands, and watched "The Departed". Sunday was church, then lunch with some other people from Threshold at Guadalajara's and then hanging out with Krystle at Borders for over two hours. Oh, and did I mention that the weekend temperature high was around 80 degrees? I gleefully wore my flip-flops after several months of them hiding in the back of the closet.

Needless to say, it was one of those weekends that made me feel content with the world. A husband I love, fellowship with friends, yummy food, sunshine---yeah, life is good.

Then I got to work this morning, and learned that someone in our department passed away over the weekend. His death was completely unexpected--he was a seemingly healthy, 47 year old man. He was admitted to the hospital a week ago, was diagnosed with Autoimmune hemolytic anemia on Wednesday, and on Friday night he died. Whoa.

Now I didn't know him very well because he worked in a program in our department that is actually in a building off campus, so it wasn't as much an emotional blow (as I know it was to the people who actually worked with him) as it was just the shock of how sudden the death was. I know people die suddenly every day in car accidents, terrorist bombings, etc. but it is still just hard for me to comprehend the abrupt nature of death sometimes. Like with this situation, one week, you're perfectly healthy, the next week you're a victim of a fatal disorder. I need more time to process things and have closure, and this kind of sudden death doesn't allow for that.

So with this news, I view my weekend with a truly grateful heart at the life I live and just pray that I can continue to have this attitude towards my life until the day it ends.

A little pearl of wisdom

This made me laugh. I love Dwight Schrute.

got my popcorn and junior mints

Since television has really been my media of choice over the last year (it's hard to keep up being addicted to 5 shows!), I've been on a sort of an unintentional movie fast. Well, I broke that fast over the last few weeks and went on a movie binge--I watched three movies and the entire broadcast of the Academy Awards just last week alone. Here are some thoughts:

Half-Nelson
A small, independent film that got some main-stream recongition with Ryan Gosling's nomination for a Best Actor Oscar. The premise sounds cliche---a young teacher in a ghetto New York neighborhood trying to make a difference---except for one little detail: the teacher is hopelessly addicted to crack. Gosling's performance is brilliant in the way that he really causes the audience to experience two extremes of emotion: you feel genuinely frustrated with his character's apathetic attitude towards his addiction yet you sympathize with the possibly of why he became addicted in the first place. Shareeka Epps stars as the student who discovers her teacher's secret and they form an unlikley bond that grows throughout the rest of the movie. However, not all problems are solved at the end of the movie, only the glimmer of hope that change might occur. Overall, I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 for the performances of Gosling and Epps and for the original plot.

Flags of our Fathers
I never really enjoyed Clint Eastwood as an actor, but I definitely appreciate him as a director. Eastwood brings to life the story behind the six men who raised the American flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima, only three of which actually left Iwo Jima alive. This moment holds a place in Amercian history forever due to the famous photograph that caught the six men putting up the flag. It's a war movie in the sense that it has several long scenes, similar to Saving Private Ryan, of actual battle. But I would not just limit it to the war genre. It's an engaging look at the personal drama that each of the men who were part of the photograph went through as they are all caught in the paradox of being publicly hailed as heros when they truly believe that this title is undeserved. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Babel
I know people who loved this movie and people who considered it a waste of two hours they will never get back. I fall in between these two extremes, but I will say that I am glad I saw it. As cheesy as it sounds, I felt that watching this film with three interwoven stories allowed me to take a (short) global journey between the primitive deserts of Morrocco, the hectic urban frenzy of Toyko, and the boisterous energy of a wedding in Mexico. I wouldn't say that this is a profound movie, but rather a subtle reflection on the good and the bad of human nature. There are no grand statements made here, leading some to feel that as a whole the movie was pointless. However, I appreciated that there was no message being shoved down the audience's throat, which allowed the meaning of the film to be interpreted in a unique way by each individual viewer. If you're in a contemplative mood, I'd recommend it. 3.5 out of 5.

Academy Awards
Highlights for me: the song by Will Ferrell and Jack Black, Martin Scorcese finally winning an Academy Award, and the sound effects choir

What movies are next on my list? Zodiac, Stranger than Fiction, and The Departed

a musical, a Superman suicide, and some stretchy pants

I saw three movies over the weekend. Here's my two cents:

"Dreamgirls"- (4 out of 5 stars) This movie is definitely very entertaining and very visually appealing. However, I was surprised that the music in the movie wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be. There were several overly sugary ballads that I thought dragged on for too long, but there were also several fun upbeat numbers so it all balanced out. I thought the movie was cast well--Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, and Eddie Murphy all fit their roles perfectly. However, I do NOT think that Murphy deserved a supporting actor nomination---although he played his role well, I didn't really feel like he was stretching himself that much. Overall, this is another great musical made into a movie and I'll even consider buying it when it comes out on DVD.

"Hollywoodland"- (3 out of 5 stars) Ben Affleck stars as George Reeves, the actor who first played Superman on TV in the 1950's and ended up committing suicide. The main plot concerns a private investigator (Adrien Brody) trying to discern whether Reeves' suicide was actually a murder. The film trys too hard to be like "L.A. Confidential", but never quite achieves that kind of greatness. It is an interesting story though and Affleck does a good job at capturing the disdain George Reeves felt towards his Superman role, which he felt prevented him from being taken seriously as an actor. This is definitely not an uplifting movie, but rather a gritty character study.

"Nacho Libre" - (2 out of 5 stars) This movie gets only two stars because there are only two main reasons to watch it: if you're a die-hard Jack Black fan or a die-hard Napoleon Dynamite fan (it was directed by Jared Hess, who also directed 'Napoleon'). I wasn't expecting this movie to be profound on any level, but I WAS expecting it to be funny. The quirky and ridiculous humor that worked in some magical way in "Napoleon" did not really work for this movie---instead, many of the supposedly funny parts were just embarrassingly pointless (why did there need to be a scene with Black's character rubbing poo in someone's face?). I will say though, that this movie did have a cute and uplifting theme, so you didn't feel like the plot was a total waste.


In other movie news, I'm excited to rent 'Half Nelson' and 'The Departed', they just came out on DVD today!

reflections

In the last week, I've learned the hard lesson of letting go of an expectation, and replacing it with the peace of knowing friendships don't need formalities or titles to mean something really special. Although this was a tough lesson, I think ultimately it provided an opportunity for God to teach me how to swallow my pride and replace it with understanding and support for a friend who really needs it.

In the last week, I've learned how fun it is to rediscover old songs on my piano. I found the sheet music to Mozart's Turkish March last Saturday, and it's weird how my fingers quickly remembered the notes of a song I haven't played since high school. I definitely love the challenge of tackling an old classical piece.

In the last week, I've learned how neat it is to know that I will soon be an official member of a church. David and I finished the last part of a new member series offered by UCC, and I really enjoyed hearing the background of the Covenant church in general, as well as the history of UCC in particular. I think making a commitment to a church is important, and I feel this was an important step for David and I to take.

I look forward to seeing what I learn in the coming week (month, quarter, year)....

here's to the nights we felt alive

Friendships are so key in this life. Even Jesus, the human version of GOD, needed fellowship and found it within his twelve disciples. Friends make live worth living instead of just getting through. And sometimes you have those experiences where you just stop and realize how precious true friendship is.

This weekend was one of those experiences for me. On Saturday night, one of my dearest friends, Rachel, got engaged. Her fiance had the fantastic idea to organize all of her closest friends to be at his apartment to surprise her with an engagement party directly after the proposal. Looking around the room, it was amazing to see a group of us that first met each other in a bible study during freshmen year and I felt so blessed that we've all stayed friends throughout the years and have been able to see each other get engaged, get married, find jobs, and become 'grown-ups'.

The weekend continued...Sunday was the ADX Alumni get-together in San Francisco and sixteen alum were there! Someone mentioned, "wow--we all look so much older" and again it just caused me to wax nostalgic about first meeting these girls as a little freshman in college, unsure and skeptical about joining a sorority. I would never have guessed that so many of them would become lifelong friends. And again, I thanked God for the gift of friendship. And I know I can never thank Him enough.

A musical onion

Some of the most powerful music I've heard is when it is in it's most basic form: one person, one instrument. There's something about hearing a song stripped of everything except the most basic elements, where I feel like it's being played just for me. Well, last night after doing some web browsing, I came across a video of Imogen Heap performing one of her songs in a most unique way--using only her voice and some clapping, she created layer upon layer of the song as she went. I'd label it 'techno- acapella'. I was amazed at the simplicity and complexity of the song all at once. Instead of me rambling on, watch for yourself:

Bauer power

The new season of '24' has arrived, the wait is finally over....

burn out bright

Christmas has come and gone. So has New Year's Eve. So has our 4-day cruise. So has my two weeks of glorious vacation time.

Usually, after big events like these pass, I experience a "post-event" melancholy where I become sad and disappointed that it's over. I've found that this is rather useless, because then I tend to miss the full joy that the event brought in the first place.

However, it seems that for once I am actually content with all of the holidays and vacation coming to an end. I enjoyed every moment with family and friends over the last few weeks, but I must admit that I am relieved in a way to be done with all the hurry and flurry and look forward to getting back into the normal flow of things.

As for New Year's resolutions, I don't have a long list this year. Of course, I could definitely come up with a long list as I've done in the past, but I've realized that perhaps it would be more effective to have one main goal for myself that could apply to several areas of my life. In the last few days I've pondered what I really want to accomplish this year and the answer came to me in the lyrics of a new song off of the new Switchfoot album:

if we've only got one try
if we've only got one life
if time was never on our side
before i die i want to burn out bright




In essence, I want to start living more purposefully. I feel that I have been stagnent in my spiritual walk for too long and I'd like to take steps to change that---studying the Bible and praying consistently would be a good place to start. I want to take action in serving others and seek out opportunities where I can do so, instead of just sitting around and thinking about it. I want to be purposeful in my friendships, in figuring out what I want my next career move to be, and in constantly pursuing a stronger marriage. I don't want to get stuck in the mud of complacency, I want to be able to say that in 2007, I moved forward.