I am coming upon the end of the semester... Summer is almost here and I am more than excited to have this summer to work and plan fun things to do!! I am determined to have fun this summer!
Due to my stress with finals and papers and whatnot that ends this semester, I have found it hard at nights to fall asleep... so last night I turned on the TV and flipped to PBS (you know, so I could bore myself with antiques roadshow or something - no offense Mom and Nancy). But to my delight, Rick Steves (I know Amy) had his travel show on and they were visiting YORK, ENGLAND!!! I have been to York... you all might remember Phoebe and my little video "Total Eclipse of the Heart" - it was filmed there! I was grinning like an idiot the entire episode see all the places I visited and seeing all the beauty of the city again! It got me to remembering Fountain's Abbey, The Bronte House, ghost tours with William Shatner (our tour guide looked and kind of sounded like him) around York where Rick, Brie, Tyler, Victoria, and I tried to scare ourselves! SO MUCH FUN!!! I missed it so much!
So I woke up this morning excited to watch Phoebe and mine's video... and then I moved on to watching all our videos again. I do this probably every couple of weeks and laugh hysterically cause they are so hilarious and were so fun to make!
I tried to upload the videos on to this post, but I can't... But I could only upload 2... so here they are
Europe #1
Europe #2
Friday, April 30, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Excitement...
Wow, I almost forgot what this feels like!! To be excited about something... REALLY EXCITED!!! My best friend Kendra, my kindred spirit Betty, and I are going to the Bahamas this summer for a WHOLE WEEK!! A family from Kendra and Betty's church is going on vacation and asked Kendra to come and bring 2 friends along to watch 8 kids!! I am SO EXCITED!!!
Check out the RESORT we are staying at!!
Check out the RESORT we are staying at!!
Thursday, April 08, 2010
TOMS Day without Shoes...
Hey all!!
I have been embarking upon an adventure today. TOMS shoes has declared this day to be a day without shoes!! I am overjoyed at this idea because I don't care for shoes! I tend to go barefoot whenever I can... haha!
But today is different, because I will not be wearing shoes ALL DAY! Wherever I go, I will have no shoes. Now, today is kind of an easy day to do this... I am nannying, so I have pretty much only felt weird walking through my garage and through the parking lot of the apartment complex where I watch Olivia. The challenge will come when I walk to the park later, a couple of block away! I am ready though because seriously it is nothing when you consider what SO MANY people live through everyday!!
Some facts:
Fact #1:
In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to food, clean water and to seek medical help.
Fact #2:
Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
Fact #3:
Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
Fact #4:
In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
Fact #5:
Podoconiosis is 100% preventable by wearing shoes.
For many people all over the world, everyday is a day without shoes on their feet. Today TOMS is asking everyone to experience what it is like to walk a mile in their soles... even if it is only for an hour, or minute, or whenever you can.
TOMS is an organization that makes shoes, and with every shoe you buy they send a pair of shoes to a child around the world. TOMS are seriously the most comfy shoes in the world and I am completely dying to get a pair one day when I have $50 to spare.
So take part and live today without shoes!!!
I have been embarking upon an adventure today. TOMS shoes has declared this day to be a day without shoes!! I am overjoyed at this idea because I don't care for shoes! I tend to go barefoot whenever I can... haha!
But today is different, because I will not be wearing shoes ALL DAY! Wherever I go, I will have no shoes. Now, today is kind of an easy day to do this... I am nannying, so I have pretty much only felt weird walking through my garage and through the parking lot of the apartment complex where I watch Olivia. The challenge will come when I walk to the park later, a couple of block away! I am ready though because seriously it is nothing when you consider what SO MANY people live through everyday!!
Some facts:
Fact #1:
In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to food, clean water and to seek medical help.
Fact #2:
Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
Fact #3:
Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
Fact #4:
In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
Fact #5:
Podoconiosis is 100% preventable by wearing shoes.
For many people all over the world, everyday is a day without shoes on their feet. Today TOMS is asking everyone to experience what it is like to walk a mile in their soles... even if it is only for an hour, or minute, or whenever you can.
TOMS is an organization that makes shoes, and with every shoe you buy they send a pair of shoes to a child around the world. TOMS are seriously the most comfy shoes in the world and I am completely dying to get a pair one day when I have $50 to spare.
So take part and live today without shoes!!!
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
After Lent...
So it would appear that after all the questioning over what I was gonna give up for lent, I guess I gave up blogging... and without even thinking about it. hahaha
this time last year!
this time last year!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Lent...
How many of you out there in blog world are doing anything to observe lent??
I have never done it... I have talked about doing it... but have never actually committed to anything. I guess the pressure to do something isn't really there because as a non-denominational protestant, I have never been required to actually give something up for lent. But part of me has always been curious to do it.
I was brainstorming last night with my roommates about what I could give up to observe the 40 days leading up to Easter and I threw out some ideas. BUT the catch is... you are supposed to give something up that would take away from you spending time with God. Now, if I am being honest, I have been thinking of limiting my Facebook time (not giving it up entirely, but LIMITING). But, my roommate asked me if I'd really be using the time I would normally have been on facebook to spend time with God? Convicting... because the answer is probably no. I would probably try... and then I would fail... and then I would feel that lovely religious guilt. ugh.
So will I do it?? Lent starts today (with it being Ash Wednesday and all) and so for the next 40 days I SHOULD be limiting my time on facebook... but the honest truth is, I have already not been very good at it.
So here is what I ask from you... word of encouragement... What are your ideas on Lent? Will you observe it in any way? If so, what will you be giving up? If not, why?
I have never done it... I have talked about doing it... but have never actually committed to anything. I guess the pressure to do something isn't really there because as a non-denominational protestant, I have never been required to actually give something up for lent. But part of me has always been curious to do it.
I was brainstorming last night with my roommates about what I could give up to observe the 40 days leading up to Easter and I threw out some ideas. BUT the catch is... you are supposed to give something up that would take away from you spending time with God. Now, if I am being honest, I have been thinking of limiting my Facebook time (not giving it up entirely, but LIMITING). But, my roommate asked me if I'd really be using the time I would normally have been on facebook to spend time with God? Convicting... because the answer is probably no. I would probably try... and then I would fail... and then I would feel that lovely religious guilt. ugh.
So will I do it?? Lent starts today (with it being Ash Wednesday and all) and so for the next 40 days I SHOULD be limiting my time on facebook... but the honest truth is, I have already not been very good at it.
So here is what I ask from you... word of encouragement... What are your ideas on Lent? Will you observe it in any way? If so, what will you be giving up? If not, why?
Friday, January 29, 2010
Do you have any idea how IN LOVE with the weather I am today!!! I am sitting with the door open gazing out at one of my favorite views in the whole world, my backyard :) So instead of updating you on the monotony of my life... which believe me, is MONOTONOUS, I am going to take a cue from Elsie and share some things that have made me happy or inspired me lately:
1. Spring dresses with cardigans
2. a dock by a lake
3. Jane Austen (of course)
4. wedding dresses with pockets
5. Book of Romans
6. the color grey (I actually spent most of the morning trying to find an affordable duvet cover in grey - so if you know where I can find one for cheap, please let me know!)
7. Weekend bags (I'm in search of the perfect one for under $30)
8. bike riding across ASU in the evenings
9. cucumbers (they're yummy)
10. Forever21 (got a gift card for christmas from my bro Tyler and I can't wait to go on a little shopping spree with it!)
Okay, I know that was a random list of stuff... some of it you probably wonder why it makes me happy... but as I said in the beginning, my life has been monotonous at best... so I am easily pleased right now :)
What makes you happy?
1. Spring dresses with cardigans
2. a dock by a lake
3. Jane Austen (of course)
4. wedding dresses with pockets
5. Book of Romans
6. the color grey (I actually spent most of the morning trying to find an affordable duvet cover in grey - so if you know where I can find one for cheap, please let me know!)
7. Weekend bags (I'm in search of the perfect one for under $30)
8. bike riding across ASU in the evenings
9. cucumbers (they're yummy)
10. Forever21 (got a gift card for christmas from my bro Tyler and I can't wait to go on a little shopping spree with it!)
Okay, I know that was a random list of stuff... some of it you probably wonder why it makes me happy... but as I said in the beginning, my life has been monotonous at best... so I am easily pleased right now :)
What makes you happy?
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Tattoo!!!
So I have toyed with the idea of a tatoo for many many years now. I kind of have an idea of what I want, but I don't have enough motivation to actually get one... BUT I found this tattoo artist through Elsie's blog and I am totally in love with her work!!!! Check some out here!
I especially love her abstract stuff!!! I want one of her tattoos SO bad.
I especially love her abstract stuff!!! I want one of her tattoos SO bad.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Doppelganger...
So 5 different people on 5 different occasions over the last 3 weeks have told me I look like Zooey Deschanel. I think it is the new dark hair! Either way, it is a TOTAL compliment and I feel so flattered because I think she is legitimately gorgeous! I also would love to mimic her style!
In other news, I have started the semester. I had one class this evening that ended up ending early because my professor wasn't prepared with a VHS player to show our first film of the semester. So she gave us the assignment to watch the film by class next week, so luckily I was able to find the film at the Tempe Public LIbrary :) I also read the first few sections of my online class "Shakespeare on Stage and Film" and I'll need to pick up a copy of Romeo and Juliet script in the next couple of days. Tomorrow I have my "Stuart England" class and my "Literature of Adolescence".
I am hoping this semester will be filled with excitement and that I'll like my classes :)
In other news, I have started the semester. I had one class this evening that ended up ending early because my professor wasn't prepared with a VHS player to show our first film of the semester. So she gave us the assignment to watch the film by class next week, so luckily I was able to find the film at the Tempe Public LIbrary :) I also read the first few sections of my online class "Shakespeare on Stage and Film" and I'll need to pick up a copy of Romeo and Juliet script in the next couple of days. Tomorrow I have my "Stuart England" class and my "Literature of Adolescence".
I am hoping this semester will be filled with excitement and that I'll like my classes :)
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Semester nearly complete...
Today is reading day for ASU. What is "reading day" you ask? Well it is a day you don't have classes so you can focus on studying :) My day includes editing my final draft of my big 27 page paper (which I will do after this blog post) and the final draft of my religions paper (did that before this blog post)!! My religions paper is unsettling for me. This entire semester we have been working on a research project for the class. I chose the topic of Prayer in the Old Testament and what is said about the relationship between Yahweh and His people. We had to write a proposal and then a 5 page paper about the answer to our question as found in our textbook and then find 6 articles and write abstracts about 5 of them and a 3 page paper about the 6th. Now this topic was causing me a headache because I just had no desire to write on it as I got deeper into my research. I kept thinking that there was an ACTUAL paper looming in my future that I would have to compile all this research into... um... come to find out 2 weeks ago, there is NO FINAL PAPER!!! Basically we just have to RE-turn in all our little papers and abstracts online tomorrow edited and polished. No actual original paper from me on the topic. So some of you may be feeling an emotion of joy on my behalf at the discovery of 1 less assignment that I had been dreading. But as I said it is unsettling for me. I keep thinking that is TOO EASY! I keep having this feeling that I will turn it in tomorrow and discover that there is another assignment I forgot to do. Even though I have confirmed with my professor that there is no other assignment. I know, "Miranda, relax and breath." The end of the semester always drives me literally insane... all my neurotic tendencies come out full force right about now.
My big long 27 page paper is nearly complete. I am just gonna read through it a couple more times and make sure I clean up any messy spots and clarify any points I didn't make clear enough... should be cake.
In other life news...
I am getting into the Christmas Spirit slowly, but surely. I have my mom's gift, I know what I am getting Nicole, I have an idea of what I will be getting Shawn, and I know what I am getting Emolyn (I just have to go and get them all). I also need to figure out Tyler and my dad. Next week is my first week of freedom from school, so I'll be Christmas shopping during that time. Anything not to cause me to go stir crazy!!!
It also is looking like I will be moving out of my parents' house come January 1st. I found a girl from my church who is looking for another roommate for a house she and another girl live in just a couple miles from ASU. I looked at the house and talked with the two girls who I will be living with and the whole thing seems AMAZING!! More details will follow (along with eventual pictures) as it all becomes more final :)
I want to take a nap now...
Sorry this was a boring post. Here is a picture of when my life was fun and interesting...
My big long 27 page paper is nearly complete. I am just gonna read through it a couple more times and make sure I clean up any messy spots and clarify any points I didn't make clear enough... should be cake.
In other life news...
I am getting into the Christmas Spirit slowly, but surely. I have my mom's gift, I know what I am getting Nicole, I have an idea of what I will be getting Shawn, and I know what I am getting Emolyn (I just have to go and get them all). I also need to figure out Tyler and my dad. Next week is my first week of freedom from school, so I'll be Christmas shopping during that time. Anything not to cause me to go stir crazy!!!
It also is looking like I will be moving out of my parents' house come January 1st. I found a girl from my church who is looking for another roommate for a house she and another girl live in just a couple miles from ASU. I looked at the house and talked with the two girls who I will be living with and the whole thing seems AMAZING!! More details will follow (along with eventual pictures) as it all becomes more final :)
I want to take a nap now...
Sorry this was a boring post. Here is a picture of when my life was fun and interesting...
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
I just did a cartwheel in the ASU Library...
Seriously, I did... I was feeling antsy from sitting my my cubical desk for the last 4 hours, that I had to get up and move around... I had an incredible urge to do a cartwheel and I did, and it was beautiful! Perfect 10!!!
I am trying to finish my BIG paper for my History 498 class tonight, because the rough draft is due tomorrow. Over the last several weeks I have written 8 pages of it and done outlines and research. The paper is required to be around 20 pages (no less than 10 and no more than 30), but as I began writing the paper, I realized it is not a matter of pages with me, it is a matter of content. I don't know why I do this... I always freak out that I won't have enough information to fill 20 pages! But low and behold, I am on page 17 and I have a good 5-10 pages of information left to write. Actually if I average a paragraph to be a page long, I have 12 pages left... not I may not end of writing on all the paragraph topics I have outlined. Luckily the paper is a rough draft, so I am simply writing information, I'll read through it to make sure it isn't sport any grammatical errors, and then I'll turn it in tomorrow and leave the major editing to my professor, and possibly me sometime next week. I am hoping I get it all done tonight so I have a whole month of editing and revising and not further research and lengthening.
But it is 8:30pm the night before my paper is due, as I said I am 12 pages away from completion, and what am I doing??? Updating my blog. I am a horrible procrastinator, but I just cant bring myself to break the binding of any more books for the next several minutes.
So where have I been the last several months?? Well, not in England, that is for sure. I have been home, living the college student life, back home with the parents, and trying to work 2 jobs (only a total of 20 hours a week - it's not that bad). I feel like after 6 months of exciting adventures, exotic locations, and a plethora of pictorial memories, being back in Phoenix and living my daily life is nothing to write on a blog about. I actually don't know how many people are even reading this right now, seeming as I have nothing exciting to share that involves breathtaking architecture, historical significance, or my lovely face in front of some famous European Landmark... what use am I anymore to the blogging community?? (if you have made it this far into the blog, please comment on the post for me so I know I am loved still :))
As my lack of blogging wore on, I became increasingly daunted by the prospect of possibly bring you up to speed on my summer events, school dealings, and work tales. If you are wondering, I went to San Diego with Kendra, Wisconsin with my mom for my cousin Erica's wedding, my friend Teresa got married!!!, and my family went to Disneyland... those are the events that stick out as even half way fascinating, but I won't begin to go into detail about each of them, or post pictures from the events because it may cause me to stop blogging all together due to stress. If you really want to see pictures, they are on my facebook and I am sure I am facebook friends with all you readers.
So what do I share now?? School stuff? I am registering for the spring semester at ASU and it sucks because the classes I wanted filled up WAY TOO FAST so I am left a little stressed about what I am going to take and whether I will like it or not. I am writing this thesis paper of the Protestant effort to save the Jewish people in France during WWII... I am reading children's books in my children's lit class... we had a Harry Potter Party last week that was actually pretty fun!... I don't like my Old Testament Bible class because the professor is arrogant... My broadway musical class online makes me miss high school theater, and my Tudor Monarchy class has caused me to purchase more of Philippa Gregory's novels and watch Showtimes "The Tudors" all over again. Its been a good semester so far actually.
I am working as a Nanny two days a week for a 7 month old little girl named Olivia... and I am also working at Apartment Life as an admin assistant for 10 hours a week... I get to do the hours whenever I want and I am being sent to Dallas next week for 2 days to train, so you may get a post on that :) Work is nice :)
Well, back to writing my paper... wish me luck and pray for my sanity! And again, if you got this far in reading, please comment so I know I am writing for someone, or else I will probably not blog again for quite some time :)
I am trying to finish my BIG paper for my History 498 class tonight, because the rough draft is due tomorrow. Over the last several weeks I have written 8 pages of it and done outlines and research. The paper is required to be around 20 pages (no less than 10 and no more than 30), but as I began writing the paper, I realized it is not a matter of pages with me, it is a matter of content. I don't know why I do this... I always freak out that I won't have enough information to fill 20 pages! But low and behold, I am on page 17 and I have a good 5-10 pages of information left to write. Actually if I average a paragraph to be a page long, I have 12 pages left... not I may not end of writing on all the paragraph topics I have outlined. Luckily the paper is a rough draft, so I am simply writing information, I'll read through it to make sure it isn't sport any grammatical errors, and then I'll turn it in tomorrow and leave the major editing to my professor, and possibly me sometime next week. I am hoping I get it all done tonight so I have a whole month of editing and revising and not further research and lengthening.
But it is 8:30pm the night before my paper is due, as I said I am 12 pages away from completion, and what am I doing??? Updating my blog. I am a horrible procrastinator, but I just cant bring myself to break the binding of any more books for the next several minutes.
So where have I been the last several months?? Well, not in England, that is for sure. I have been home, living the college student life, back home with the parents, and trying to work 2 jobs (only a total of 20 hours a week - it's not that bad). I feel like after 6 months of exciting adventures, exotic locations, and a plethora of pictorial memories, being back in Phoenix and living my daily life is nothing to write on a blog about. I actually don't know how many people are even reading this right now, seeming as I have nothing exciting to share that involves breathtaking architecture, historical significance, or my lovely face in front of some famous European Landmark... what use am I anymore to the blogging community?? (if you have made it this far into the blog, please comment on the post for me so I know I am loved still :))
As my lack of blogging wore on, I became increasingly daunted by the prospect of possibly bring you up to speed on my summer events, school dealings, and work tales. If you are wondering, I went to San Diego with Kendra, Wisconsin with my mom for my cousin Erica's wedding, my friend Teresa got married!!!, and my family went to Disneyland... those are the events that stick out as even half way fascinating, but I won't begin to go into detail about each of them, or post pictures from the events because it may cause me to stop blogging all together due to stress. If you really want to see pictures, they are on my facebook and I am sure I am facebook friends with all you readers.
So what do I share now?? School stuff? I am registering for the spring semester at ASU and it sucks because the classes I wanted filled up WAY TOO FAST so I am left a little stressed about what I am going to take and whether I will like it or not. I am writing this thesis paper of the Protestant effort to save the Jewish people in France during WWII... I am reading children's books in my children's lit class... we had a Harry Potter Party last week that was actually pretty fun!... I don't like my Old Testament Bible class because the professor is arrogant... My broadway musical class online makes me miss high school theater, and my Tudor Monarchy class has caused me to purchase more of Philippa Gregory's novels and watch Showtimes "The Tudors" all over again. Its been a good semester so far actually.
I am working as a Nanny two days a week for a 7 month old little girl named Olivia... and I am also working at Apartment Life as an admin assistant for 10 hours a week... I get to do the hours whenever I want and I am being sent to Dallas next week for 2 days to train, so you may get a post on that :) Work is nice :)
Well, back to writing my paper... wish me luck and pray for my sanity! And again, if you got this far in reading, please comment so I know I am writing for someone, or else I will probably not blog again for quite some time :)
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Phoebe & Miranda's European Dance Party #2
This is it folks... the last video!! The end of an era!!! ENJOY!!!!!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
update...
- Im house sitting for Terry and Nancy and am absolutely LOVING IT!!! Sat out by the pool today trying to even out awkward tan lines - now Im in my sweats watching Titanic on TV... bliss!
- finally found my dress for my cousin's wedding in a month - Hence the tan line debacle... the neck line is not forgiving to strap lines.
- I start ASU one week from Monday!!! I am different than most students I think because I CANNOT WAIT!!! I am SO excited for all my classes this semester! I am also actually looking forward to structure in my life... I am loving being able to relax and laze about most days, but I need something to occupy my mind now and am ready to have homework and reading and classes to go to.
- I started a job this last week. I am a nanny for a precious 5 month old little girl named Olivia! I am only there two days a week (mon and wed) but it is a great job and I think will really work out well with school. She sleeps for a good 3 hours while I'm there, so that is prime homework time! When she's awake she is so cute and funny!
- I want to die my hair red... I am trying to decide if I should wait a month until after my cousin's wedding, or before - ideas?
- I miss Greek Food! I had lunch at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant and realized how much I need to incorporate more Greek Food into my regular meal rotation... mainly just the feta cheese - YUM!
- Terry and Nancy's cat Shredder keeps meowing at me. I will come out of the bathroom even and she is usually sitting outside the door waiting to meow at me. I don't think she likes me being here.
- Oldnavy jeans are on sale and I may head down there tomorrow to check them out!!
- It's my best friend Kendra's birthday tomorrow!!! She is turning 25!
- there are several movies in theaters I want to see right now!
- Did I tell you how excited I am to be starting school on the 24th!!! I have even gotten a couple required books under my belt because I am THAT excited!
- speaking of books, Half Priced books is just down the road from where I am staying and I think I will need to head down there to get some new reading material!
- Like I said, Im watching Titanic, and I wonder whatever happened to Bill Paxton... not that his acting talent (or lack there of) is greatly missed, I'm just wondering.
- Amy Schubert! You will be excited to learn that I am really into Mad Men right now... I'm half way through the first season and I am loving it. I wish people still dressed like that even today... the dresses are beyond fantastic!! and the hair!! and the make up!!
- I am excited to have my appetite fully restored! I love food and it makes me sad when I can't eat it!
- I am working on editing the last two videos of Phoebe and I dancing our way through Europe... so those should be coming in the next week or so :)
- finally found my dress for my cousin's wedding in a month - Hence the tan line debacle... the neck line is not forgiving to strap lines.
- I start ASU one week from Monday!!! I am different than most students I think because I CANNOT WAIT!!! I am SO excited for all my classes this semester! I am also actually looking forward to structure in my life... I am loving being able to relax and laze about most days, but I need something to occupy my mind now and am ready to have homework and reading and classes to go to.
- I started a job this last week. I am a nanny for a precious 5 month old little girl named Olivia! I am only there two days a week (mon and wed) but it is a great job and I think will really work out well with school. She sleeps for a good 3 hours while I'm there, so that is prime homework time! When she's awake she is so cute and funny!
- I want to die my hair red... I am trying to decide if I should wait a month until after my cousin's wedding, or before - ideas?
- I miss Greek Food! I had lunch at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant and realized how much I need to incorporate more Greek Food into my regular meal rotation... mainly just the feta cheese - YUM!
- Terry and Nancy's cat Shredder keeps meowing at me. I will come out of the bathroom even and she is usually sitting outside the door waiting to meow at me. I don't think she likes me being here.
- Oldnavy jeans are on sale and I may head down there tomorrow to check them out!!
- It's my best friend Kendra's birthday tomorrow!!! She is turning 25!
- there are several movies in theaters I want to see right now!
- Did I tell you how excited I am to be starting school on the 24th!!! I have even gotten a couple required books under my belt because I am THAT excited!
- speaking of books, Half Priced books is just down the road from where I am staying and I think I will need to head down there to get some new reading material!
- Like I said, Im watching Titanic, and I wonder whatever happened to Bill Paxton... not that his acting talent (or lack there of) is greatly missed, I'm just wondering.
- Amy Schubert! You will be excited to learn that I am really into Mad Men right now... I'm half way through the first season and I am loving it. I wish people still dressed like that even today... the dresses are beyond fantastic!! and the hair!! and the make up!!
- I am excited to have my appetite fully restored! I love food and it makes me sad when I can't eat it!
- I am working on editing the last two videos of Phoebe and I dancing our way through Europe... so those should be coming in the next week or so :)
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Read this today...
For I do not believe God means us thus to divide life into two halves - to wear a grave face on Sunday, and to think it out-of-place to even so much as mention Him on a weekday. Do you think He cares to see only kneeling figures, and to hear only tones of prayer - and that He does not also love to see the lambs leaping in the sunlight, and to hear the merry voices of the children, as they roll among the hay? Surely their innocent laughter is as sweet in His ears as the grandest anthem that ever rolled up from the 'dim religious light' of the solemn cathedral? ... Sun will rise on you, dear child, feeling your 'life in every limb,' and eager to rush out into the fresh morning air - and many a [day] will come and go, before it finds you feeble and gray-headed, creeping wearily out to bask once more in the sunlight - but it is good, even now, to think sometimes of that great morning when the 'Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.'
Surely your gladness need not be the less for the thought that you will one day see a brighter dawn than this - when lovelier sights will meet you eyes than any waving trees or rippling waters... and when all the sadness, and the sin, that darkened life on this little earth, shall be forgotten like the dreams of a night that is past.
- Lewis Carroll (Author of Alice in Wonderland)
Saturday, August 08, 2009
AMAZING!!
My parents and I saw this live at Hillsong Church in London on Easter... it was beyond powerful! I have been waiting to find it online for months and I finally did!! Enjoy - it's amazing!
Easter 09 Hillsong London from Ugo Boff on Vimeo.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
One month home...
I have been home for exactly 1 months today... here is stuff I have learned:
- Reality sucks!!! It was nice to escape the pain, hurt, sadness, stress, frustration, monotony, and difficulty of real life for 6 months. It would seem being away has made me less able to handle it well... then again, who ever handles those things well?
- American money is really weird. The bills are so thin and long... and the coins are so light and small. It is strange having single bills and not £1 or £2 coins.
- When I first got off the plane in America, I noticed the distinct smell of fried food... didn't realize that was missing so greatly in Europe, but it was.
- I love having my family and friends around. You have no idea the joy it gives me to be able to text and call any friend I want to at any time
- I have missed Open Door, I have missed my church family. It feels good to know that people know me there.
- I need a job. I had a lovely first 3 weeks of visiting friends and catching up with people, but now I need to fill my hours with something as I am getting bored... and stir crazy
- Not living alone is an adjustment. I have lived on my own for several years now and upon returning to the states, I moved in with my parents. It is strange not having my stuff filling the house and not having more space that is all my own.
- free food. I love grocery shopping and buying food, but it is nice not having to spend money... and home cooking is lovely!
- DRIVING!!! I have thoroughly missed driving and the joy I feel every time I slip into the drivers seat is indescribable! I love being able to just drive wherever I want to go - not have to wait for a train or walk - I love driving and I love my car.
- I miss walking. I actually do... I love driving, but there was such a feeling of accomplishment that came from walking around an entire European city. I felt so fit!
- I have loved eating all my favorite American foods again - sunflower seeds, gushers, QT 32 oz drinks, Wild Flower Bread Company, Whole Food's sushi, In & Out, Wendy's spicy chicken sandwiches, Burger King's Spicy Chicken Crisp, Ben & Jerry's Smores, Velveeta Shells & Cheese, Lucky Charms, and all the milk in the fridge I can handle - heaven
- Visiting my favorite stores - Forever21, Target (like 15 times now), Ross, Kohls, Payless, Old Navy, Teidemann's thrift store, Dollar Store, Apple Store, etc.
- Being able to see pictures, TV shows, Movies, advertisements and be able to say I have been to such place. Walking through Target I always use to look at their art pieces of France or London or Italy and dream about one day seeing them for myself. I walked through the other day and saw a big poster of the Eiffel Tower and got so excited that I had seen it in person, and also knew exactly where the photographer must have been standing to take the picture... small joys.
- Sharing with people about my experience. I keep telling everyone I meet that they need to drop everything and do what I did... even if just for a couple weeks - but to go on an adventure. People also always ask whether I feel like God revealed stuff about me that I didn't know before - stuff I was more capable of. And I answer "no". I think the thing that God taught me while I was away was not anything about me... but EVERYTHING about Him. I learned so much about who God is and how much he deeply deeply deeply loves me. I have said in posts before that God seemed so audible there, so tangible... returning here I would have to be honest and say that it is harder to hear him and feel him in my normal life... but the memory of what I experienced there reminds me of the reality of God.
Thanks for enjoying the ride with me. I will continue to post on this blog of course, but it will soon return to the mundane adventures of a girl in her mid-twenties who is trusting God to help her figure out life, school, love, friendships, and her purpose...
- Reality sucks!!! It was nice to escape the pain, hurt, sadness, stress, frustration, monotony, and difficulty of real life for 6 months. It would seem being away has made me less able to handle it well... then again, who ever handles those things well?
- American money is really weird. The bills are so thin and long... and the coins are so light and small. It is strange having single bills and not £1 or £2 coins.
- When I first got off the plane in America, I noticed the distinct smell of fried food... didn't realize that was missing so greatly in Europe, but it was.
- I love having my family and friends around. You have no idea the joy it gives me to be able to text and call any friend I want to at any time
- I have missed Open Door, I have missed my church family. It feels good to know that people know me there.
- I need a job. I had a lovely first 3 weeks of visiting friends and catching up with people, but now I need to fill my hours with something as I am getting bored... and stir crazy
- Not living alone is an adjustment. I have lived on my own for several years now and upon returning to the states, I moved in with my parents. It is strange not having my stuff filling the house and not having more space that is all my own.
- free food. I love grocery shopping and buying food, but it is nice not having to spend money... and home cooking is lovely!
- DRIVING!!! I have thoroughly missed driving and the joy I feel every time I slip into the drivers seat is indescribable! I love being able to just drive wherever I want to go - not have to wait for a train or walk - I love driving and I love my car.
- I miss walking. I actually do... I love driving, but there was such a feeling of accomplishment that came from walking around an entire European city. I felt so fit!
- I have loved eating all my favorite American foods again - sunflower seeds, gushers, QT 32 oz drinks, Wild Flower Bread Company, Whole Food's sushi, In & Out, Wendy's spicy chicken sandwiches, Burger King's Spicy Chicken Crisp, Ben & Jerry's Smores, Velveeta Shells & Cheese, Lucky Charms, and all the milk in the fridge I can handle - heaven
- Visiting my favorite stores - Forever21, Target (like 15 times now), Ross, Kohls, Payless, Old Navy, Teidemann's thrift store, Dollar Store, Apple Store, etc.
- Being able to see pictures, TV shows, Movies, advertisements and be able to say I have been to such place. Walking through Target I always use to look at their art pieces of France or London or Italy and dream about one day seeing them for myself. I walked through the other day and saw a big poster of the Eiffel Tower and got so excited that I had seen it in person, and also knew exactly where the photographer must have been standing to take the picture... small joys.
- Sharing with people about my experience. I keep telling everyone I meet that they need to drop everything and do what I did... even if just for a couple weeks - but to go on an adventure. People also always ask whether I feel like God revealed stuff about me that I didn't know before - stuff I was more capable of. And I answer "no". I think the thing that God taught me while I was away was not anything about me... but EVERYTHING about Him. I learned so much about who God is and how much he deeply deeply deeply loves me. I have said in posts before that God seemed so audible there, so tangible... returning here I would have to be honest and say that it is harder to hear him and feel him in my normal life... but the memory of what I experienced there reminds me of the reality of God.
Thanks for enjoying the ride with me. I will continue to post on this blog of course, but it will soon return to the mundane adventures of a girl in her mid-twenties who is trusting God to help her figure out life, school, love, friendships, and her purpose...
Monday, July 20, 2009
Athens & Delphi (Day 12 & 13)
Phoebe and i had to get off the boat by 8am, so the day began rather early... miserably early to be honest!
When we got off the boat we grabbed a taxi to our hostel (which ended up costing an arm and a leg, but it was worth it to be dropped off right at our hostel). We were crossing our fingers in hopes we would be allowed to get into our room early (9am) and be able to take a nap, but alas it was not to be. Instead we put our luggage in the luggage room and enjoyed their free wireless internet and then at 10am we joined a walking tour of Athens.
Some of our destinations...
Temple of Zeus - where we learned that (in the words of our Greek tour guide) that the Greeks "like to destroy [their] heritage" and a lot of the columns were torn down to become part of the foundations of the surrounding buildings.
The original Olympic Stadium - which hold over 60,000 people. The original olympic games were performed in the nude, but they eventually switched to requiring clothes. At one of the games a woman disguised herself as a man and won one of the marathon races... promptly upon crossing the finish line all her clothes fell off and the secret was out. After this women's games were introduced for certain events.
Parliament of Greece - where we saw the "changing of the guards"... the Greek guards are ridiculous looking and their changing ceremony is silly as anything I have EVER seen
The guards' uniform is very specific in its meaning... the number of the pleats in the skirt is 400 to represent the 400 years of oppression of the Greeks. The puff balls in their shoes are to hide the daggers in the toes of their shoes... very clever to hide daggers with something so very subtle and inconspicuous... haha!
A main street in Athens... the good shopping street
After roaming for a bit around the city learning things about the Greek Royal Family which was not in fact originally Greek and therefore were not liked and when they fled the country in fear of a war, they were refused back into the country for all time it would seem. We also learned about how one of the Greek Prime Ministers introduced the potato into the country rather recently in its history and therefore changed the face of greek food. We then began our ascent up to the acropolis with fresh strawberries and bananas bought at a fruit stand in town. We walked up the hill and sat ourselves down on a hilltop just below the acropolis and took in the best view of Athens.
The Ancient Greek Agora - the ancient main market place in ancient Athens
Athens
As the story goes, the tale behind the name of Athens came from 2 propositions presented to the city elders from the Goddess Athena and the God Posidon. Athena offered the city in return for them naming the city after her, wisdom, education, art, culture, and justice. Posidon wanted the city named after him and in exchange he offered the city victory in war, ships, trade, and safety at sea. The elders went with Athena and as a result Posidon sent a great flood to destroy the city. Athens consequently built a lively temple to the god of the sea at the shore.
You also may be wondering the name of the hill on which we were sitting, or you aren't wondering at all, but I'll tell you anyways... the hill in Greek is called Areopagus and translates into English as "Mars Hill". So if you haven't caught on already Mars Hill is the mountaintop on which Paul preached to the men of Athens in Acts 17!! It was awesome to stand there and think on that passage.
It was there that our tour ended and Phoebe and I decided to continue on up to the acropolis from there.
The acropolis in Greek means "farthest point in the city" It is known to be the most significant ancient archaeological site in the world.
This is the theater where Yanni played his "live at the acropolis" concert
Theater of Dionysus
The erechtheum also on site
After the acropolis Phoebe and I walked down to the Ancient Agora to explore the site
For lunch we went into the market and got a gyro - SO DELICIOUS!!! We then set about shopping... we had pretty much seen everything in Athens we wanted to as far as historical sites. Surprisingly a lot of the famous sites can easily just be walked by and you don't have to pay to get in. So Phoebe and I shopped YAY!
Along the way through the market Phoebe and I were joined by a stray dog... Athens has TONS! of stray dogs everywhere! This dog we named Raul and he was awesome.
By this time it was close to 3:30pm and we were exhausted, so we headed back to the hostel for a nap before dinner. Our room wasn't air conditioned and it happened to be 94 degrees out, so it wasn't the most comfortable, but it was restful. After our nap we headed to the roof bar to check it out... had a drink, met some people, and then we ventured out for dinner.
Our hostel was literally down the street from the acropolis, so I caught this picture on the way to dinner
We also had a chance to walk by the new Acropolis museum which was going to open the following day! Currently most of the Parthenon interior and other big statues are housed in the British Museum (which I had seen of course), but Greece is hoping this museum opening will be a step in the direction of Britain returning the pieces... I am not seeing that happening soon.
So with our incredibly productive day in Athens, we found ourselves with little left to do in the city and so we decided our second day would be spent on a day trip to Delphi in the north. Delphi is of course known as the hope of the Oracle of Delphi.
The bus ride was 3 hours and I was able to doze for a little bit... accept there was this painfully loud minnesota man who I don't think truly grasped the volume of his voice. haha.
We finally arrived at Delphi and it became apparent we were in for a VERY hot day.
Delphi was at one point thought to be the center of the universe because Zeus sent out two eagles in opposite directions around the world and they collided at Delphi. (As you may have guessed the line between mythology and Greek history is very blurred). So at the center of the universe they placed a stone with magical powers and called it "the navel" basically just like your belly button which is essentially the center of your body. The rock is believed to give you strange dreams when you touch it... this is interesting for me since my dreams are always weird
hugging a column
This is foundation of the Temple of Apollo which is where the Oracle was housed. The Oracle was basically some young girl strung out on Laurel leaves who had spies everywhere who fed her information to make her predictions somewhat accurate.
So basically the Oracle was just an ancient flower child hippie
Delphi was a full fledged city and therefore had a theater
and a stadium - which you cant run in anymore cause someone tripped and subsequently sued the site for their injuries... stupid people
Delphi also has a museum with some smaller artifacts in it. It's not a very popular place and appeared to have more people working there than people visiting. They also had a rule that fully allowed you to take pictures of the artifacts as long as you didn't have people in them... strange. Our tour guide let us go in alone because she is banned from the museum. She doesn't exactly have her tour guide license, which you need by law in Greece, and so all throughout the site we had to act as though we were just friends and she wasn't allowed to explain things to us very loudly. She was awesome though!
Before we headed back to the bus we had a lovely picnic provided by the tour. We sat in the shade which was nice.
After Delphi we headed to a small town to do some shopping. I forget the name of the town, but it was small and charming and nice to roam through. Some rain clouds also came in and drizzled on us a bit which was really nice after the heat.
We boarded the bus on the other side of the town and were ready to set off back to athens (after of course we found a missing member of our group who was lost for a good 20 minutes).
Once we were back in Athens Phoebe and I went out for some food and one last shopping trip. It was our last night in Greece, our last night in Europe and our last night together! Once we returned to London the following day we would go our separate ways only to meet up on monday at heathrow before I boarded my plane home to America. We ate at this lovely restaurant right below the acropolis. It was great food and we totally splurged. There were two guitar players serenading the restaurant, which was almost empty but for us. The host, who was awesome, asked for them to play a song especially for us and they began to play "Let it Be" by the Beatles... It was one of those moments where everything hit me... the amazing trip, the perfectness of this spot, this moment, and to have experienced it all with my dearest friend Phoebe!! I totally burst out crying. It was just such a perfect moment!
This is me and Phoebe trying not to completely lose it
Our guitar players
It was a delicious meal and then for dessert we got watermelon on the house... AWESOME!!
Afterwards we went to look through the stores. One such store I went into I began flipping through their shirts and all of a sudden the lady who owned the store starts following me. When I finish flipping through a rack of tshirts, she promptly shoves in between me and the rack to begin to fix it... she begins muttering under her breath how I am a "stupid American chicken!" EXCUSE ME!!! I had no idea what happened... I promptly left the shop thoroughly confused and only after I had left did I realize how angry that made me... I had NO IDEA what I did to deserve that!
We shopped some more and we even walked by the Museum to catch some of the grand opening festivities. They were projecting cartoons of mythological tales on one of the outside walls so we stopped and enjoyed the show for a moment.
Back at the hostel we packed for our return to england and had quite a fun time throwing out clothes, shoes and toiletries we would not be using again... I love throwing out unneeded things.
One last picture before bed of Phoebe and I... post showers
So this is Goodbye Greece... this is goodbye continental Europe... the adventure comes to an end and I return home wiser and in more awe of your amazingness. Thanks Europe for being awesome!!!
When we got off the boat we grabbed a taxi to our hostel (which ended up costing an arm and a leg, but it was worth it to be dropped off right at our hostel). We were crossing our fingers in hopes we would be allowed to get into our room early (9am) and be able to take a nap, but alas it was not to be. Instead we put our luggage in the luggage room and enjoyed their free wireless internet and then at 10am we joined a walking tour of Athens.
Some of our destinations...
Temple of Zeus - where we learned that (in the words of our Greek tour guide) that the Greeks "like to destroy [their] heritage" and a lot of the columns were torn down to become part of the foundations of the surrounding buildings.
The original Olympic Stadium - which hold over 60,000 people. The original olympic games were performed in the nude, but they eventually switched to requiring clothes. At one of the games a woman disguised herself as a man and won one of the marathon races... promptly upon crossing the finish line all her clothes fell off and the secret was out. After this women's games were introduced for certain events.
Parliament of Greece - where we saw the "changing of the guards"... the Greek guards are ridiculous looking and their changing ceremony is silly as anything I have EVER seen
The guards' uniform is very specific in its meaning... the number of the pleats in the skirt is 400 to represent the 400 years of oppression of the Greeks. The puff balls in their shoes are to hide the daggers in the toes of their shoes... very clever to hide daggers with something so very subtle and inconspicuous... haha!
A main street in Athens... the good shopping street
After roaming for a bit around the city learning things about the Greek Royal Family which was not in fact originally Greek and therefore were not liked and when they fled the country in fear of a war, they were refused back into the country for all time it would seem. We also learned about how one of the Greek Prime Ministers introduced the potato into the country rather recently in its history and therefore changed the face of greek food. We then began our ascent up to the acropolis with fresh strawberries and bananas bought at a fruit stand in town. We walked up the hill and sat ourselves down on a hilltop just below the acropolis and took in the best view of Athens.
The Ancient Greek Agora - the ancient main market place in ancient Athens
Athens
As the story goes, the tale behind the name of Athens came from 2 propositions presented to the city elders from the Goddess Athena and the God Posidon. Athena offered the city in return for them naming the city after her, wisdom, education, art, culture, and justice. Posidon wanted the city named after him and in exchange he offered the city victory in war, ships, trade, and safety at sea. The elders went with Athena and as a result Posidon sent a great flood to destroy the city. Athens consequently built a lively temple to the god of the sea at the shore.
You also may be wondering the name of the hill on which we were sitting, or you aren't wondering at all, but I'll tell you anyways... the hill in Greek is called Areopagus and translates into English as "Mars Hill". So if you haven't caught on already Mars Hill is the mountaintop on which Paul preached to the men of Athens in Acts 17!! It was awesome to stand there and think on that passage.
It was there that our tour ended and Phoebe and I decided to continue on up to the acropolis from there.
The acropolis in Greek means "farthest point in the city" It is known to be the most significant ancient archaeological site in the world.
This is the theater where Yanni played his "live at the acropolis" concert
Theater of Dionysus
The erechtheum also on site
After the acropolis Phoebe and I walked down to the Ancient Agora to explore the site
For lunch we went into the market and got a gyro - SO DELICIOUS!!! We then set about shopping... we had pretty much seen everything in Athens we wanted to as far as historical sites. Surprisingly a lot of the famous sites can easily just be walked by and you don't have to pay to get in. So Phoebe and I shopped YAY!
Along the way through the market Phoebe and I were joined by a stray dog... Athens has TONS! of stray dogs everywhere! This dog we named Raul and he was awesome.
By this time it was close to 3:30pm and we were exhausted, so we headed back to the hostel for a nap before dinner. Our room wasn't air conditioned and it happened to be 94 degrees out, so it wasn't the most comfortable, but it was restful. After our nap we headed to the roof bar to check it out... had a drink, met some people, and then we ventured out for dinner.
Our hostel was literally down the street from the acropolis, so I caught this picture on the way to dinner
We also had a chance to walk by the new Acropolis museum which was going to open the following day! Currently most of the Parthenon interior and other big statues are housed in the British Museum (which I had seen of course), but Greece is hoping this museum opening will be a step in the direction of Britain returning the pieces... I am not seeing that happening soon.
So with our incredibly productive day in Athens, we found ourselves with little left to do in the city and so we decided our second day would be spent on a day trip to Delphi in the north. Delphi is of course known as the hope of the Oracle of Delphi.
The bus ride was 3 hours and I was able to doze for a little bit... accept there was this painfully loud minnesota man who I don't think truly grasped the volume of his voice. haha.
We finally arrived at Delphi and it became apparent we were in for a VERY hot day.
Delphi was at one point thought to be the center of the universe because Zeus sent out two eagles in opposite directions around the world and they collided at Delphi. (As you may have guessed the line between mythology and Greek history is very blurred). So at the center of the universe they placed a stone with magical powers and called it "the navel" basically just like your belly button which is essentially the center of your body. The rock is believed to give you strange dreams when you touch it... this is interesting for me since my dreams are always weird
hugging a column
This is foundation of the Temple of Apollo which is where the Oracle was housed. The Oracle was basically some young girl strung out on Laurel leaves who had spies everywhere who fed her information to make her predictions somewhat accurate.
So basically the Oracle was just an ancient flower child hippie
Delphi was a full fledged city and therefore had a theater
and a stadium - which you cant run in anymore cause someone tripped and subsequently sued the site for their injuries... stupid people
Delphi also has a museum with some smaller artifacts in it. It's not a very popular place and appeared to have more people working there than people visiting. They also had a rule that fully allowed you to take pictures of the artifacts as long as you didn't have people in them... strange. Our tour guide let us go in alone because she is banned from the museum. She doesn't exactly have her tour guide license, which you need by law in Greece, and so all throughout the site we had to act as though we were just friends and she wasn't allowed to explain things to us very loudly. She was awesome though!
Before we headed back to the bus we had a lovely picnic provided by the tour. We sat in the shade which was nice.
After Delphi we headed to a small town to do some shopping. I forget the name of the town, but it was small and charming and nice to roam through. Some rain clouds also came in and drizzled on us a bit which was really nice after the heat.
We boarded the bus on the other side of the town and were ready to set off back to athens (after of course we found a missing member of our group who was lost for a good 20 minutes).
Once we were back in Athens Phoebe and I went out for some food and one last shopping trip. It was our last night in Greece, our last night in Europe and our last night together! Once we returned to London the following day we would go our separate ways only to meet up on monday at heathrow before I boarded my plane home to America. We ate at this lovely restaurant right below the acropolis. It was great food and we totally splurged. There were two guitar players serenading the restaurant, which was almost empty but for us. The host, who was awesome, asked for them to play a song especially for us and they began to play "Let it Be" by the Beatles... It was one of those moments where everything hit me... the amazing trip, the perfectness of this spot, this moment, and to have experienced it all with my dearest friend Phoebe!! I totally burst out crying. It was just such a perfect moment!
This is me and Phoebe trying not to completely lose it
Our guitar players
It was a delicious meal and then for dessert we got watermelon on the house... AWESOME!!
Afterwards we went to look through the stores. One such store I went into I began flipping through their shirts and all of a sudden the lady who owned the store starts following me. When I finish flipping through a rack of tshirts, she promptly shoves in between me and the rack to begin to fix it... she begins muttering under her breath how I am a "stupid American chicken!" EXCUSE ME!!! I had no idea what happened... I promptly left the shop thoroughly confused and only after I had left did I realize how angry that made me... I had NO IDEA what I did to deserve that!
We shopped some more and we even walked by the Museum to catch some of the grand opening festivities. They were projecting cartoons of mythological tales on one of the outside walls so we stopped and enjoyed the show for a moment.
Back at the hostel we packed for our return to england and had quite a fun time throwing out clothes, shoes and toiletries we would not be using again... I love throwing out unneeded things.
One last picture before bed of Phoebe and I... post showers
So this is Goodbye Greece... this is goodbye continental Europe... the adventure comes to an end and I return home wiser and in more awe of your amazingness. Thanks Europe for being awesome!!!
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