It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
- Aristotle
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
SnowStuckStoryUpdates...
(pics taken BEFORE it snowed alllll day today)
Well, public transportation has served me well thus far (other than adding a few hours to my commute)....
On the second evening I took the bus home the driver let us on for free! (well other than attempting to steal the Christmas present I had in my arms...) so that was nice. There was a crazy man on the bus talking to himself, and another kid sitting near him that was apparently insulted by whatever talking-to-himself man was saying, because they almost came to blows and there was a lot of raised discussion, including several verses of "You BETTER not be talkin' to me!"...fortunately one got off the bus before it escalated much more. However, one has to wonder...how can you get so mad at a man who is clearly talking to himself? No matter what he's saying....hmmmm....
Unfortunately, on my way down the hill to my apt (walking) I slipped on the lovely ice and that was NOT fun, I have purple spots on my hips to prove it...I'm an old woman, get me a walker!
The next morning began my jaunt (which isn't jaunty at all) up the hill in the snow barefoot (ok not barefoot, just making sure you're paying attention...lol) and suddenly at my side appeared a woman! LITERALLY, I did not see her prior and then all of the sudden she was there, and chatting with me! We chatted politely about the weather, the hike up the hill, and the usefulness of the bus. Then standing at the busstop, she suddenly got a worried look on her face and said something along the lines of "Honey, you know, if you need a real coat (mind you, I was wearing a Columbia ski jacket) they are giving away coats and warm things for people who need them at the Westgate Chapel."......Me:...."oh....well....uh.....thank....you....."....I was amazed. Apparently, I'm not only poor, now I look like a poor person! Ohhhh, what a blow to the good ol' self esteem, and also comical....for what it's worth, I'm not yet in need of charity and am surviving just fine, although certainly not living a life of luxury, I have more than a lot of people in this world (just not compared to spoiled Americans).
On Saturday, Alma and I met up on the bus and headed to work, before which we stopped at Home Depot to look for some liquid de-icer to unfreeze my car doors (oh yeah, i left my car at work for a few days because the doors froze shut)....unfortunately the woman at Home Depot gruffly informed us that the entire state is sold out....duh (implied). Then she took us a to large man named "Moose" who sold me on denaturalized alcohol...which would supposedly melt the ice, over a period of a couple hours (and I really hope not take the paint off my car!). Needless to say we were late to work....bah!
On my break I headed back into the cold and put the alcohol on my car doors....and then headed back inside and proceeded to attempt to thaw my feet, with the help of a space heater and loving coworker...working all day with cold feet - ouch! This was the day that my beloved younger brother was meant to arrive from Moscow (Idaho, not Russia)...so my parents were on their way over to pick him up from SeaTac and were nice enough to meet me after work to put chains on my car. Unfortunately they were over an hour late, so I sat and waited for them.....yowza, cold! They headed off to pick up the brother and I puttered home on my chains at 20 miles an hour....but I made it home! (Finally around 4 in the afternoon).
A few short hours later, my parents discovered my brother's flight was delayed...and then delayed...and then cancelled...then transferred....Needless to say, he DID get as far as Boise, and then spent the night in the airport. Around midnight my parents finally ended up at my apartment, as they were stuck in Seattle waiting for my brother. They spent a very uncomfortable night worried about my brother all alone (on his first ever solo flying experience) and sleeping on a very small and hard futon....with the piddly amount of spare blankets and sheets I own for warmth! This morning my brother finally got a flight into SeaTac on standby - praise the Lord! My parents were able to go get him and made it home safely to Sequim by this evening. Once all this was accomplished I think I was finally able to let all the stress of this past week go (at least to some extent) and spent a large part of the day asleep....I really needed it! I didn't get much else done today, but I can rest a little easier now, knowing that the most important people in my life are safe and sound. My hope is to make it to Sequim to be with them for Christmas...but even if I can't, at least I know they are all there :)
Tomorrow morning I'm headed back the the bus....we shall see what interesting stories await me......It hasn't stopped snowing today....at all, except for maybe a half hour this morning......
To all of you out there who are struggling with flights or in airports or simply trying to get home for Christmas, I empathize with you and wish you the best of luck in your (mis)adventures!
P.S. Who ever wrote "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...." - IDIOT!
Well, public transportation has served me well thus far (other than adding a few hours to my commute)....
On the second evening I took the bus home the driver let us on for free! (well other than attempting to steal the Christmas present I had in my arms...) so that was nice. There was a crazy man on the bus talking to himself, and another kid sitting near him that was apparently insulted by whatever talking-to-himself man was saying, because they almost came to blows and there was a lot of raised discussion, including several verses of "You BETTER not be talkin' to me!"...fortunately one got off the bus before it escalated much more. However, one has to wonder...how can you get so mad at a man who is clearly talking to himself? No matter what he's saying....hmmmm....
Unfortunately, on my way down the hill to my apt (walking) I slipped on the lovely ice and that was NOT fun, I have purple spots on my hips to prove it...I'm an old woman, get me a walker!
The next morning began my jaunt (which isn't jaunty at all) up the hill in the snow barefoot (ok not barefoot, just making sure you're paying attention...lol) and suddenly at my side appeared a woman! LITERALLY, I did not see her prior and then all of the sudden she was there, and chatting with me! We chatted politely about the weather, the hike up the hill, and the usefulness of the bus. Then standing at the busstop, she suddenly got a worried look on her face and said something along the lines of "Honey, you know, if you need a real coat (mind you, I was wearing a Columbia ski jacket) they are giving away coats and warm things for people who need them at the Westgate Chapel."......Me:...."oh....well....uh.....thank....you....."....I was amazed. Apparently, I'm not only poor, now I look like a poor person! Ohhhh, what a blow to the good ol' self esteem, and also comical....for what it's worth, I'm not yet in need of charity and am surviving just fine, although certainly not living a life of luxury, I have more than a lot of people in this world (just not compared to spoiled Americans).
On Saturday, Alma and I met up on the bus and headed to work, before which we stopped at Home Depot to look for some liquid de-icer to unfreeze my car doors (oh yeah, i left my car at work for a few days because the doors froze shut)....unfortunately the woman at Home Depot gruffly informed us that the entire state is sold out....duh (implied). Then she took us a to large man named "Moose" who sold me on denaturalized alcohol...which would supposedly melt the ice, over a period of a couple hours (and I really hope not take the paint off my car!). Needless to say we were late to work....bah!
On my break I headed back into the cold and put the alcohol on my car doors....and then headed back inside and proceeded to attempt to thaw my feet, with the help of a space heater and loving coworker...working all day with cold feet - ouch! This was the day that my beloved younger brother was meant to arrive from Moscow (Idaho, not Russia)...so my parents were on their way over to pick him up from SeaTac and were nice enough to meet me after work to put chains on my car. Unfortunately they were over an hour late, so I sat and waited for them.....yowza, cold! They headed off to pick up the brother and I puttered home on my chains at 20 miles an hour....but I made it home! (Finally around 4 in the afternoon).
A few short hours later, my parents discovered my brother's flight was delayed...and then delayed...and then cancelled...then transferred....Needless to say, he DID get as far as Boise, and then spent the night in the airport. Around midnight my parents finally ended up at my apartment, as they were stuck in Seattle waiting for my brother. They spent a very uncomfortable night worried about my brother all alone (on his first ever solo flying experience) and sleeping on a very small and hard futon....with the piddly amount of spare blankets and sheets I own for warmth! This morning my brother finally got a flight into SeaTac on standby - praise the Lord! My parents were able to go get him and made it home safely to Sequim by this evening. Once all this was accomplished I think I was finally able to let all the stress of this past week go (at least to some extent) and spent a large part of the day asleep....I really needed it! I didn't get much else done today, but I can rest a little easier now, knowing that the most important people in my life are safe and sound. My hope is to make it to Sequim to be with them for Christmas...but even if I can't, at least I know they are all there :)
Tomorrow morning I'm headed back the the bus....we shall see what interesting stories await me......It hasn't stopped snowing today....at all, except for maybe a half hour this morning......
To all of you out there who are struggling with flights or in airports or simply trying to get home for Christmas, I empathize with you and wish you the best of luck in your (mis)adventures!
P.S. Who ever wrote "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...." - IDIOT!
Friday, December 19, 2008
El Mano? A salute to Public Transportation...
So, for those of you who don't know - current Washington weather has been crazy snowy! Due to scarily icy road conditions, I took the bus to work this morning. As we all know (well those of us who live in Seattle and have, at some point in our college lives, taken the bus on a regular basis) - there are always weird adventures on the bus! Public transportation...makes me laugh. So this morning I sat down on the bus, hoping for a chance to thaw a little as well as talk to my mom on the phone. That was not in my cards however as I ended up sitting next to the ONLY chatty person on the bus! He was a small Vietnamese man...well, I don't know that for sure...but I thought he was Vietnamese because he kept talking about Vietnamese people at his job, and making it sound like he was one of them...but then something confused me! On his hand he had a tattoo...and it distinctly said "El Mano". Well, in Spanish the word for hand is "La Mano"...so this greatly confused me. If he had a tattoo on his hand that said "The Hand", how ridiculous would that be? On the other hand (haha, pun intended) it DIDN'T say The Hand...it said something else...but what?!? What does El Mano mean? Anyone know? And what language is it? Was it some sort of inside joke?...Anyway, needless to say it made the the trip interesting between contemplating what El Mano meant and attempting to listen to his muttering conversation about everything from the weather (obviously) to HIS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (yes, he told me his social security number...ummm what?!?!) to his job and everything in between. So I say thank you Public Transportation, you are always good for an ironic chuckle.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
It's all about the witty banter...
We Are Marshall - My rating 8.5
I'll just admit it right now, I'm a total sucker for sports movies (whether it's Remember the Titans or Rookie of the Year), they pretty much always make me cry...as did this one! I enjoyed the movie immensely, despite the crying, and felt like it was a little more realistic than a lots of sports movies (in which the main goal is generally to win some sort of championship). This movie has heart! I also thought it was very refreshing to see Matthew Mcconaughey in a movie where he DIDN'T play a man-slut or an irresponsible young man. I thought he did a surprisingly good job playing a serious part and actually playing it well. Definitely one to watch...
Tales of Beedle the Bard (book)- My rating 6.0
For those of you who don't know this is somewhat of an addendum to the Harry Potter series...it is referenced in the final book of the series. It is a book of short stories that is supposedly to the wizarding community what fairytales are to the "muggle" community. Essentially, these are short stories, each with an identifiable moral at the end. I really enjoy J.K. Rowling's writing style and so even though parts of this book were a little slow, I thought it was interesting (although nothing compared to the actual novels). Worth a read for any true J.K. Rowling fan.
Monk - Season One - My rating 7.0
I actually haven't finished this yet, but from what I have watched so far it's a show that I like. The one thing I don't like about the show is Monk's sidekick/nurse. She is really annoying. Monk, however, is a very entertaining character. Despite his neurosis (which I find oddly comforting in a way, perhaps because I have similar, albeit less obvious, tendencies) I think he's a great character. Reccomend watching...
Frasier - Season One - My rating 8.0
I never realized that I would like this show! I always thought it was dull from the bits and pieces I've seen over the years, but upon undertaking to watch the entirety of it, I've discovered that the witty banter and unique characters on the show hold fast my attention.
Facedown (book)- by Matt Redman. My Rating - 9.8 (yes you heard me right).
Never on this blog has any book/magazine/movie/tv show gotten such a high rating! This book was an incredibly insightful look at worship. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who desires to deepen their love and respect of The Almighty God. All throughout the book I marked passages that either provoked great images or emotions for me that I will share with you all eventually. Definitely worth the read.
By the way - one of my co-workers, having noted what a bookworm I've become gave me a Barnes and Noble gift card for Christmas (secret santa) - what a perfect gift!
I'll just admit it right now, I'm a total sucker for sports movies (whether it's Remember the Titans or Rookie of the Year), they pretty much always make me cry...as did this one! I enjoyed the movie immensely, despite the crying, and felt like it was a little more realistic than a lots of sports movies (in which the main goal is generally to win some sort of championship). This movie has heart! I also thought it was very refreshing to see Matthew Mcconaughey in a movie where he DIDN'T play a man-slut or an irresponsible young man. I thought he did a surprisingly good job playing a serious part and actually playing it well. Definitely one to watch...
Tales of Beedle the Bard (book)- My rating 6.0
For those of you who don't know this is somewhat of an addendum to the Harry Potter series...it is referenced in the final book of the series. It is a book of short stories that is supposedly to the wizarding community what fairytales are to the "muggle" community. Essentially, these are short stories, each with an identifiable moral at the end. I really enjoy J.K. Rowling's writing style and so even though parts of this book were a little slow, I thought it was interesting (although nothing compared to the actual novels). Worth a read for any true J.K. Rowling fan.
Monk - Season One - My rating 7.0
I actually haven't finished this yet, but from what I have watched so far it's a show that I like. The one thing I don't like about the show is Monk's sidekick/nurse. She is really annoying. Monk, however, is a very entertaining character. Despite his neurosis (which I find oddly comforting in a way, perhaps because I have similar, albeit less obvious, tendencies) I think he's a great character. Reccomend watching...
Frasier - Season One - My rating 8.0
I never realized that I would like this show! I always thought it was dull from the bits and pieces I've seen over the years, but upon undertaking to watch the entirety of it, I've discovered that the witty banter and unique characters on the show hold fast my attention.
Facedown (book)- by Matt Redman. My Rating - 9.8 (yes you heard me right).
Never on this blog has any book/magazine/movie/tv show gotten such a high rating! This book was an incredibly insightful look at worship. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who desires to deepen their love and respect of The Almighty God. All throughout the book I marked passages that either provoked great images or emotions for me that I will share with you all eventually. Definitely worth the read.
By the way - one of my co-workers, having noted what a bookworm I've become gave me a Barnes and Noble gift card for Christmas (secret santa) - what a perfect gift!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Scrumdiddliumptious
I'm currently reading Tales of Beedle the Bard (by J.K. Rowling, it is something of an addendum to the Harry Potter tales...although more of a concordance, if you will, than a novel...) So far I have learned a few new words due to it (I always enjoy adding to my vocabulary, nerd alert!!)
palatial: [puh-ley-shuhl]
–adjective 1. of, pertaining to, or resembling a palace: a palatial home.
2. befitting or suitable for a palace; stately; magnificent: a palatial tapestry.
mien - [meen]
–noun air, bearing, or demeanor, as showing character, feeling, etc.: a man of noble mien.
sagacity - [suh-gas-i-tee]
–noun acuteness of mental discernment and soundness of judgment.
(this one I had heard before in the form of sagacious but was unclear on the exact meaning)
simulacrum - [sim-yuh-ley-kruhm]
–noun, plural
1. a slight, unreal, or superficial likeness or semblance.
2. an effigy, image, or representation: a simulacrum of Aphrodite.
There you have it folks, new knowledge for the day.
P.S. It's SNOWING AGAIN, and I'm dreading my drive home. eek!
palatial: [puh-ley-shuhl]
–adjective 1. of, pertaining to, or resembling a palace: a palatial home.
2. befitting or suitable for a palace; stately; magnificent: a palatial tapestry.
mien - [meen]
–noun air, bearing, or demeanor, as showing character, feeling, etc.: a man of noble mien.
sagacity - [suh-gas-i-tee]
–noun acuteness of mental discernment and soundness of judgment.
(this one I had heard before in the form of sagacious but was unclear on the exact meaning)
simulacrum - [sim-yuh-ley-kruhm]
–noun, plural
1. a slight, unreal, or superficial likeness or semblance.
2. an effigy, image, or representation: a simulacrum of Aphrodite.
There you have it folks, new knowledge for the day.
P.S. It's SNOWING AGAIN, and I'm dreading my drive home. eek!
Adventures on Ice
So apparently Lynnwood is the snow pocket of western Washington. At my apartment, and for about 4 surrounding blocks, there is a thick blanket of snow (which is now mainly ice on the roads!), however the further you drive in any direction the less and less snow there is. It has been 2 years since I dealt (sp? doesn't look right) with snow, and to tell you the truth...I'm not a fan, and I had no idea! Remember when you were a kid and snow was an excuse for a snow day from school, a world full of entertainment, and a tasty snack? lol. No longer...now a "snow day" includes a precarious trek driving on the ice to work. The last couple of days my tires have started sliding all on their own twice....suffice it to say...I'm beginning to strongly believe I belong in a warmer climate, so far, all signs point to yes......!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Getting hit on accidently...
Awkward moment that happened at work the other day....
Me: Hi, how are you doing today? What can I help you with?
(40+ year old) Man: Hey, I'm good just doing a deposit...It's cold outside, etc etc.
*Man's phone rings*
Man (to person on phone): (IN SPANISH) Hey man, I can't talk right now I'm chatting with the pretty girl at the bank...
Me (in my head...): wow, awkward. He has no idea that I know what he just said.
Me (out loud): (IN SPANISH) Hey guess what? I understand you...I speak Spanish.
*awkward pause...at least 30 seconds, he just stares at me*
Finally he says: Well....I didn't say anything that isn't true! You are a beautiful girl....
Awkward...so much awkward. I proceeded to chat with him in Spanish for the rest of the transaction.
Me: Hi, how are you doing today? What can I help you with?
(40+ year old) Man: Hey, I'm good just doing a deposit...It's cold outside, etc etc.
*Man's phone rings*
Man (to person on phone): (IN SPANISH) Hey man, I can't talk right now I'm chatting with the pretty girl at the bank...
Me (in my head...): wow, awkward. He has no idea that I know what he just said.
Me (out loud): (IN SPANISH) Hey guess what? I understand you...I speak Spanish.
*awkward pause...at least 30 seconds, he just stares at me*
Finally he says: Well....I didn't say anything that isn't true! You are a beautiful girl....
Awkward...so much awkward. I proceeded to chat with him in Spanish for the rest of the transaction.
Monday, December 8, 2008
I'm a little behind...
on my media ratings! So I'll attempt to sum up that last couple things I've read/watched...
When Harry Met Sally - My rating: 9.2
I realize this isn't a new one, but I had a very limited movie viewing permission as a child and haven't seen a majority of movies that everyone else has. I really enjoyed this movie, and it was quite entertaining to see Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal - the younger years, poofy hair styles high-waisted pants.
Shrek the Third - My rating 6.1
While I thoroughly enjoyed the first and was more or less amused by the second, the third edition of this beloved story felt a little flat. However, with the same beloved characters it was a necessary watch and was enjoyable seeing the happy couple with their new brood (oops, spoiler!). All in all, pretty typical for a third in a series (especially if it wasn't originally a series)...
Entourage (TV show) - My rating 0.2.
Really, that was my rating. I watched half of the first episode and turned it off and returned it to the library. Definitely not worth watching. It's a show all about 4 guys who live together and all they care about it money and getting laid. The language is vulgar and offensive, as is the theme....would definitely not recommend it.
Four Weddings and a Funeral (movie) - My rating 3.5
Normally I adore movies with Hugh Grant, one of my favorite "chick flick" actors. However, I found the liberal use of the "F-word" offensive and while the movie was cute, and a typical love story...I did not find it as endearing as I normally would with this type of movie. Wouldn't recommend it.
The Alchemy - (book) My rating 6.0
Typical Christian romance novel. There are two people who obviously (from the start of the book) meant to be together, but before they can, they have to go through many trials and find God. Recommended for easy reading.
The Tapestry - (book) My rating 6.3.
Ditto to previous (The Alchemy). This was actually the final book in a series of 4, I liked the first and fourth better than the middle two books. However, it was a typical Christian love story. Recommended for easy reading.
ALIAS (Season Two) - My rating 9.0.
Ok, not really fair to re-rate this one. It wasn't a first time watching, however, I thoroughly enjoy this show (and I don't normally enjoy anything that involves fighting/punching/blood/etc...) and would highly recommend it for its entertainment value. Totally worth watching.
Desperate Housewives (Season 4) - My rating 6.0
I really enjoyed the first season of this show (which was nothing like I expected it to be...) I was kind of anticipating (and wary of) a show solely about women cheating on their husbands. However, the show is much different than that. The first two seasons were good, but now into the 3rd and 4th season they seem to be grasping for straws to keep story lines going...like tornadoes, and more arson (there is a LOT of arson in this show! weird.) Anyway, would recommend watching the other seasons first.
Father of the Bride (movie) - My rating 7.5
Another typical chick flick that was enjoyably cheerful. Recommended for an light evening movie viewing.
A Hundred Million Suns - Snow Patrol (music!) - My rating 9.2
I have loved Snow Patrol for a few years now, and have even been to one of their concerts. This newest album keeps true to their music style and is great for listening to, as well as thinking about the lyrics (another hobby of mine). If Snow Patrol had one fault in their music it would simply be that a lot of their music tends to sounds similar, however - it's great, so I guess that just makes it all great! Highly Recommended.
Gossip in the Grain - Ray LaMontagne - (music) - My Rating 9.2
Equally as good as the Snow Patrol album, but different in style. Very good for quiet music and also singing in your car. I really enjoy his sound, and how different it is. Highly Recommended.
Currently watching:
Monk (first season)
Reading:
The Kite Runner (haven't actually started yet, but it's next on the list)
Facedown - (still!) It's an incredible book, but I only read like a couple pages at a time. It's really one to just think about while reading it.
Listening to: The Decemberists and The Shins (enjoying both!, review yet to come)...
When Harry Met Sally - My rating: 9.2
I realize this isn't a new one, but I had a very limited movie viewing permission as a child and haven't seen a majority of movies that everyone else has. I really enjoyed this movie, and it was quite entertaining to see Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal - the younger years, poofy hair styles high-waisted pants.
Shrek the Third - My rating 6.1
While I thoroughly enjoyed the first and was more or less amused by the second, the third edition of this beloved story felt a little flat. However, with the same beloved characters it was a necessary watch and was enjoyable seeing the happy couple with their new brood (oops, spoiler!). All in all, pretty typical for a third in a series (especially if it wasn't originally a series)...
Entourage (TV show) - My rating 0.2.
Really, that was my rating. I watched half of the first episode and turned it off and returned it to the library. Definitely not worth watching. It's a show all about 4 guys who live together and all they care about it money and getting laid. The language is vulgar and offensive, as is the theme....would definitely not recommend it.
Four Weddings and a Funeral (movie) - My rating 3.5
Normally I adore movies with Hugh Grant, one of my favorite "chick flick" actors. However, I found the liberal use of the "F-word" offensive and while the movie was cute, and a typical love story...I did not find it as endearing as I normally would with this type of movie. Wouldn't recommend it.
The Alchemy - (book) My rating 6.0
Typical Christian romance novel. There are two people who obviously (from the start of the book) meant to be together, but before they can, they have to go through many trials and find God. Recommended for easy reading.
The Tapestry - (book) My rating 6.3.
Ditto to previous (The Alchemy). This was actually the final book in a series of 4, I liked the first and fourth better than the middle two books. However, it was a typical Christian love story. Recommended for easy reading.
ALIAS (Season Two) - My rating 9.0.
Ok, not really fair to re-rate this one. It wasn't a first time watching, however, I thoroughly enjoy this show (and I don't normally enjoy anything that involves fighting/punching/blood/etc...) and would highly recommend it for its entertainment value. Totally worth watching.
Desperate Housewives (Season 4) - My rating 6.0
I really enjoyed the first season of this show (which was nothing like I expected it to be...) I was kind of anticipating (and wary of) a show solely about women cheating on their husbands. However, the show is much different than that. The first two seasons were good, but now into the 3rd and 4th season they seem to be grasping for straws to keep story lines going...like tornadoes, and more arson (there is a LOT of arson in this show! weird.) Anyway, would recommend watching the other seasons first.
Father of the Bride (movie) - My rating 7.5
Another typical chick flick that was enjoyably cheerful. Recommended for an light evening movie viewing.
A Hundred Million Suns - Snow Patrol (music!) - My rating 9.2
I have loved Snow Patrol for a few years now, and have even been to one of their concerts. This newest album keeps true to their music style and is great for listening to, as well as thinking about the lyrics (another hobby of mine). If Snow Patrol had one fault in their music it would simply be that a lot of their music tends to sounds similar, however - it's great, so I guess that just makes it all great! Highly Recommended.
Gossip in the Grain - Ray LaMontagne - (music) - My Rating 9.2
Equally as good as the Snow Patrol album, but different in style. Very good for quiet music and also singing in your car. I really enjoy his sound, and how different it is. Highly Recommended.
Currently watching:
Monk (first season)
Reading:
The Kite Runner (haven't actually started yet, but it's next on the list)
Facedown - (still!) It's an incredible book, but I only read like a couple pages at a time. It's really one to just think about while reading it.
Listening to: The Decemberists and The Shins (enjoying both!, review yet to come)...
Sunday, December 7, 2008
17 Cent Karma
Today (I started writing this yesterday) I had an event which, if I believed in karma, would have been very karmic. I was at the grocery store getting ready to purchase my items, and there was a girl (ok, woman) in front of me who was short 17 cents. Now (and this speaks to what has come of our culture) I didn't have any cash, and neither did the checker, to give her. She just kind of stood there looking sad and helpless and holding out the cash that she did have...Before I even realized what I was doing I offered to buy something for her....She was very shocked (as were the checker and bag boy) but accepted and I purchased her taco seasoning.....Not a big deal right? I know you all would have done the same, it seems like a pretty common, and small, blessing to be able to give someone. Then as I walked out to my car and unloaded my groceries, a man pulled into the spot next to me and got out. He offered to take back my cart! Also not unusual, but still a small blessing. The two events seemed to balance each other out in my mind - and I blame it on the Holidays. People are in such a better mood at Christmas......Which is why the Salvation Army people are out at Christmas...speaking of which, I haven't seen any of those yet...odd. I'm sure now I will.....Holiday blessings to all of you!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Turkey Day Pics
Just a couple actual Thanksgiving pictures....didn't get any great whole family shots, but here's a few cute ones...
Mom working on a cat puzzle....all the women in my family are great puzzlers :)
Dad carving the bird!
Mom and I being silly with the Indian Corn. Sexy right?
Mom working on a cat puzzle....all the women in my family are great puzzlers :)
Dad carving the bird!
Mom and I being silly with the Indian Corn. Sexy right?
Friday, November 28, 2008
Turkey Day
Mine was...so good! And it went by so fast :( My day was filled with turkey, pie and lots of entertainment. My parents and grandma made the trek over from Sequim to my apartment here in Lynnwood and we spent a cozy day eating treats and catching up. 3 highlights of my day included: watching my dad listen to his ipod for the first time (with my music...all kinds, English, Spanish, Rap, Rock, Shawn McDonald, James Blunt, Hairspray soundtrack, etc, etc, etc). Putting the Christmas lights, and my few meager decorations on my tree. And finally, playing Catchphrase with my family was one of the funniest things I've done in a long time. All in all it was a great day of relaxation and laughter....here's hoping yours was as well :) God Bless...and in true cat lady style, I hope this makes you laugh as much as it did me...
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
in other news...
can you tell it's a quiet day at work today? Oops, hope I didn't just jinx myself :S
Anyway, in other news, I need a new picture of me for this blog. However, there are two problems with that 1). I do not have any stunning (lol!) and/or very current photos of myself that portray my blog personality. what the heck? Yeah, I don't know what it is either...and 2) More importantly, I don't know how to change it! In order to get a picture on there in the first place I remember it being quite an ordeal and Andy was definitely involved in helping my technologically illiterate self. So I suppose for now, it is simply a thought...or perhaps a cry for help? Or simply a time waster here at work...more to come later....
Anyway, in other news, I need a new picture of me for this blog. However, there are two problems with that 1). I do not have any stunning (lol!) and/or very current photos of myself that portray my blog personality. what the heck? Yeah, I don't know what it is either...and 2) More importantly, I don't know how to change it! In order to get a picture on there in the first place I remember it being quite an ordeal and Andy was definitely involved in helping my technologically illiterate self. So I suppose for now, it is simply a thought...or perhaps a cry for help? Or simply a time waster here at work...more to come later....
hmm...
Competence, like truth, beauty and contact lenses, is in the eye of the beholder.
- Laurence J. Peter
- Laurence J. Peter
THE SHACK
dun dun dun...do I dare review the book that has been made so much of, as of late? I dare...
Book Review: The Shack
by: William P. Young
My Rating: 7.3
I liked it! However, I really had to push my way through to the end before reflecting back on the book to realize that I did like it. Haha. It was a parable to what it looks like to walk with God and interact with Him, especially as He is the Trinity. I can see where people could easily reject some of the ideas mentioned, on their face, if they were not careful to read each line of text and truly understand what it is that William Young in attempting to portray with his use of a black woman (God), asian woman (Holy Spirit) and Arab Carpenter (Jesus...a little more obvious) -it is NOT that He is condoning the idea of God as a woman, but rather that God is an asexual being, and simply chose to portray God as a woman in this novel in an attempt to broaden peoples' perspectives on the idea of God and shatter images of Him as an old man with white beard who sits on His throne. For taking that chance I applaud the author. I also enjoy the use of the interaction between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit throughout the book. In today's culture there is so much debate surrounding the idea of the Trinity and what that truly means, I enjoyed Young's perspective of a simply love between three people that is unequaled in the human universe, due to its purity. The thing that impacted me the most reading this book was the incredible imagery that is used towards the end of the book in one of Mack's (main character) interactions with the spiritual realm and the healing that comes from it. More than anything, this book made me think. I'm not one to easily take things on their face as accurate (especially when it comes to controversial biblical topics) and so I didn't with this book either, and in doing so it made me contemplate what I truly believed about the Trinity, the gender of God, humans interactions with God, etc...All in all, it's certainly worth reading, provided that you go into it recognizing that it is, in fact, a piece of fiction and an analogy, not absolute truth!
I'd say...read it! And then tell me what you think :)
Lars and the Real Girl
Movie Review #2 -
Lars and the Real Girl
My Rating: 8.0
I'm not a movie person, but if I was this is my type of movie. It's a little off kilter as far as movies go, but I found it enjoyable as well as really was able to take on the plight of the people in the story. It felt significantly more real-life than many "romantic comdedies" (and I wouldn't even necessarily categorize this one as a romantic comedy, not typical by any means). I enjoyed a movie without violence, swearing and very little sexual innuendo for the firs time in a long time! It seems that very few movies are made without those things anymore. Anyway, I won't spoil it for you, but I'd highly recommend this movie if you're looking for something a little different, a little bit confusing at first, and yet heart warming in outcome.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Movie Review!
Rating: 4.0
I'm switching to Movie Review (only for the day). I'm not a big movie watcher in general. Right Ivan? Haha...I much prefer half-hour TV shows (even if I watch 4 in a row) rather than 2 hour movie. What does that say about me? I'm not sure...Maybe I am truly shaped by a culture that doesn't even have the patience to watch a 2 hour movie anymore...Although, the fact that cinema is one of the biggest sources of entertainment for Americans would be a testament that instead I am the anomaly. Anyway, beyond all that speculation, I DID watch a movie yesterday, admittedly while baking cookies and washing dishes...however, I did.
I watched the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - a book I also read not that long ago (but prior to the beginning of my book reviews). I enjoyed the book and was surprised at the depth to which it actually goes, farther than what one would assume to be a Teen-girl book. It explores the themes of true love and support between friends and what that looks like (as well as other more surfacy topics).
I was sorely disappointed in the movie. As with most books-made-movies the story fell drastically short of what the original book story portrayed. Not only were the story of the individual girls changed (especially Lena! her story was NOTHING like the one in the book) but I felt like so much of the emotion and dpeth portrayed in the book was gone - leaving simply a teen-flick dealing mostly with teen crushes. I was sorely disappointed...
I'd recommend the book before the movie of course. I'd give the book a 7.0 for such as easy read....enjoy!
Rating: 4.0
I'm switching to Movie Review (only for the day). I'm not a big movie watcher in general. Right Ivan? Haha...I much prefer half-hour TV shows (even if I watch 4 in a row) rather than 2 hour movie. What does that say about me? I'm not sure...Maybe I am truly shaped by a culture that doesn't even have the patience to watch a 2 hour movie anymore...Although, the fact that cinema is one of the biggest sources of entertainment for Americans would be a testament that instead I am the anomaly. Anyway, beyond all that speculation, I DID watch a movie yesterday, admittedly while baking cookies and washing dishes...however, I did.
I watched the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - a book I also read not that long ago (but prior to the beginning of my book reviews). I enjoyed the book and was surprised at the depth to which it actually goes, farther than what one would assume to be a Teen-girl book. It explores the themes of true love and support between friends and what that looks like (as well as other more surfacy topics).
I was sorely disappointed in the movie. As with most books-made-movies the story fell drastically short of what the original book story portrayed. Not only were the story of the individual girls changed (especially Lena! her story was NOTHING like the one in the book) but I felt like so much of the emotion and dpeth portrayed in the book was gone - leaving simply a teen-flick dealing mostly with teen crushes. I was sorely disappointed...
I'd recommend the book before the movie of course. I'd give the book a 7.0 for such as easy read....enjoy!
The Cat Lady
It's official...I AM THE CAT LADY. My friends oh-so-lovingly dubbed me with this title a while back due to 2 things: 1). I absolutely adore cats, oftentimes more than people (not saying I should, just stating the facts) and 2). I'm pretty much the only single person left in the world (ok, just my world in which anyone my age is married, engaged, and thinking about children). I am doomed to be the "cat lady" to grow up an old maid who has hundreds of cats, who (eventually when I die) eat my decaying body because no one finds me in my lonely apartment where I live alone.
Ok...maybe that's a bit extreme, but - I had my first true experience of being a cat lady yesterday. It was my day off, so I went for a run. On my way back, I walked into our apartment complex (a very long and uphill drive way). Close to the front a cat ran up to me! It was all gray, and - get this - it was wearing a gray sweater! How weird? A cat in a sweater. Don't get it. Anyway, I stopped to pet it for a moment, although being wary (as I am allergic to cats, lol - which will make being a cat lady difficult) not to fluff up the fur too much. I planned to progress up to my apartment, but this sweater-wearing-cat followed me! It jumped at me and tried to grab my ipod cord! It rubbed against my legs and feet and purred...awwwwwww. It followed me all the way to my apartment. I think it was hungry, but I don't exactly have a supply of cat food on hand - I gave it CheezIts....heehee. My cat at home loves pretzels, so it was worth a shot! Unfortunately "sweater cat" as I have so named her in my head, wasn't interested, and scampered away to find another single lonely lady with better snacks. lol.
Needless to say...there are 4 cheezits outside my door. and I've had a look into my future....eek!
Ok...maybe that's a bit extreme, but - I had my first true experience of being a cat lady yesterday. It was my day off, so I went for a run. On my way back, I walked into our apartment complex (a very long and uphill drive way). Close to the front a cat ran up to me! It was all gray, and - get this - it was wearing a gray sweater! How weird? A cat in a sweater. Don't get it. Anyway, I stopped to pet it for a moment, although being wary (as I am allergic to cats, lol - which will make being a cat lady difficult) not to fluff up the fur too much. I planned to progress up to my apartment, but this sweater-wearing-cat followed me! It jumped at me and tried to grab my ipod cord! It rubbed against my legs and feet and purred...awwwwwww. It followed me all the way to my apartment. I think it was hungry, but I don't exactly have a supply of cat food on hand - I gave it CheezIts....heehee. My cat at home loves pretzels, so it was worth a shot! Unfortunately "sweater cat" as I have so named her in my head, wasn't interested, and scampered away to find another single lonely lady with better snacks. lol.
Needless to say...there are 4 cheezits outside my door. and I've had a look into my future....eek!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Bones
Book Review Tres:
The Lovely Bones by Alice Siebold
My Rating: 5.0
I listened to this story on tape...well cd, rather than reading. Does that have some effect on my enjoyment of the story...unlikely. Although, by the end I did find myself wishing it was over so that I could move on to something else I wanted to listen to.
This story was another recommended to me by Amazon, and I must say I'm starting to be wary of "their" judgement! This book was entitled The Lovely Bones...clearly, before even beginning to read one can assume it will surround a murder. However, I was a little shocked by the introductory chapters in which *spoiler alert* young Suzie Salmon is brutally raped and murdered, and described in detail. Something I really didn't need to hear...although I suppose the story would lose some of its grip without it. From there...the story proceeds to tell of Suzie Salmon watching the story unfold of her family and friends' lives and how the each cope with the sorrow of losing her in their own way. Essentially, her family is torn apart as her father tries to get revenge on the man he believes to have killed her and ends up badly beaten and with permanent injuries. Her mom has an affair WITH THE DETECTIVE ON SUZIE'S CASE, and then moves across the country because she can no longer stand to be a part of her own family or face her own children, still living. The alcohlic Grandmother comes to live with the family, and the youngest child learns to live in the shadow of his dead sister and without true love from a parent (father) who cannot love his living children due to the memory of his dead one and a mother who deserted him for a tepid affair and a job at a winery. Throughout the story, not only are the family and friends being watched, but also the killer...the reader finds themself simply wanting to reach out and tell everyone that he's RIGHT THERE. But you can't! And neither can Suzie, secluded in "her heaven"...an interesting portrayal of heaven, to be sure...without God, I'd venture it pretty inaccurate. Haha. Anyway, throughout the book, one would think that the finale would reveal a capture of this man, some justice served after the many rapes and deaths (Suzie was not his only victim) that he caused. Instead, rather, the culmination of the story comes with an "out of body" experience in which Suzie is able to switch souls with a friend of hers still on earth for a short time and have sex with the boy she loved....(when she died at age 14...could she truly love him? She barely knew him)...Rather than take her time on earth to point out her killer's wareabouts or spend time with her family who would have desperately needed to see her. She chooses to have sex and then return to her heaven. What?!?!?!*Spoiler alert* the killer dies...by icicle. Yes, by icicle. Accidental death. Odd.
The one thing I did like about this story was that it was very atypical. It seemed that no matter what the reader would expect...it didn't happen, this did make it seem more realistic. Although, isn't it hard to live in a world knowing that innocent girls' deaths are never avenged? that mother's have affairs out of sadness? and that children are never properly loved due to pain that never goes away? Isn't it pure irony that because one child was so loved, and she is gone, others that would have been equally as loved miss that opportunity?
I'd recommend this book more highly than the previous (Max Tivoli)...as it gives more of an opportunity for deeper perception and thought into our society and the levels of ache that sin has brought us to. However, if you're looking for a pleasure read murder/mystery type book, this is not it!! Beware...
Finally...I'm currently reading THE SHACK. I know, it's supposed to be a big deal right? So far I'm not as thoroughly impressed as everyone seems to make out that I will be...but I'm going to finish it before I completely tear it apart...wait for it ;)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Confessions
Book Review Numero Dos!
Book: The Confessions of Max Tivoli
Genre: Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 (on a scale of 1-10)
This book was interesting. It was well written - I appreciated the wide vocabulary of the author (Andrew Sean Geer) and the writing style, although at times it seems overly drawn out. It was written in a fairly eloquent way, however because of that, often tended towards wordiness. The story itself was sad and left the reader (well, this reader, haha) with a melancholy feeling. The storyline follows a man named Max Tivoli (who later goes by the name Asgar Van Daler). This man *spoiler alert* is a man who is born as a old man and ages oppositely throughout his life. Make sense? No? Yeah...didn't make sense to me at first either. Literally he is born as an old man...and gets progressively younger throughout the book. When he is 17 he falls in love with a 14 year old girl...although it seems much creepier than that because his interaction with her is one of an old man (even though he is 17, to the world he is 70) and a young girl. More or less the rest of the story follows this young man's desire for the girl (Alice) and how his "age disorder" affects his lust (I would say love...at one point *spoiler alert* he does marry her and they don't stay together). Max Tivoli lives a backwards life in which his family is embarassed of him, his father leaves him, he is obsessed with a teenage girl, his wife leaves him, and in the end he ends his own life - rather than degenerate into an infant for the final years of his life. What are Max Tivoli's confessions? The confessions of his life, what it really was, and who he really was. Virtually no one, save his only friend Hughie and his mother, ever knew you Max really was, or believe who he was. This book is bitter (and not sweet at all!). It was an interesting read, but I have to admit that I kept hoping Max would be able to tell the truth to the only person he loved and they would live happily ever after...too much Disney in my life I guess, ;)
I'd recommend it only if you unlimited reading time on your hands..otherwise, look for something a little more worth your time and with a better message to it's reading.
Monday, November 3, 2008
also...
as an aside to the post I just posted....I've started getting tons of books from the library - from whatever Amazon recommends for me. However, I'm also open to any of your suggestions (you people, I value your opinions much higher than the computer generated list Amazon provides for me)! So...suggest away :)
Book Review Numero Uno
I Dared to Call Him Father:The Miraculous Story of a Muslim Woman's Encounter with God
by Bilquis Sheikh and Richard H. Schneider
This book was exactly what the second half of the title claims - a miraculous story of a Muslim woman's encounter with God. I have to admit...I never finished the book! I read at least 5/6ths of it...but I got a little bored. Parts of this book were certainly inspiring, Bilquis is a woman of incredible faith...However, the action occurring in the book seemed very repetitive (something like this....I started to feel oppressed/I stopped feeling the presence of the Spirit....then I realized that I needed the presence of the Spirit back, so I prayed and stopped sinning...and there He was!)...Which, is all great and encouraging...but it's similar to my everyday life (except that hers took place in a country full of spiritual oppression).
The thing that I did really appreciate about this book was how intensly intune Bilquis was with the Holy Spirit. She was able to pinpoint feelings of the moment she walked away from the Spirit. I, on the other hand, tend do drift away and not really notice it until it becomes painful. haha.
Anyway, I'd recommend the book for easy reading - and perhaps you have a better attention span than I and you'll make it through the entirety of the novel. Despite my lack of focus during my reading of this book, I walk away from it with a deeper respect for those who live in truly religiously oppressive countries as well as a desire to have the deep intuition of the spirit that Bilquis had in the book. Because really - walking the Spirit is soooo much better than walking away. Right??? the answer is yes... :)
by Bilquis Sheikh and Richard H. Schneider
This book was exactly what the second half of the title claims - a miraculous story of a Muslim woman's encounter with God. I have to admit...I never finished the book! I read at least 5/6ths of it...but I got a little bored. Parts of this book were certainly inspiring, Bilquis is a woman of incredible faith...However, the action occurring in the book seemed very repetitive (something like this....I started to feel oppressed/I stopped feeling the presence of the Spirit....then I realized that I needed the presence of the Spirit back, so I prayed and stopped sinning...and there He was!)...Which, is all great and encouraging...but it's similar to my everyday life (except that hers took place in a country full of spiritual oppression).
The thing that I did really appreciate about this book was how intensly intune Bilquis was with the Holy Spirit. She was able to pinpoint feelings of the moment she walked away from the Spirit. I, on the other hand, tend do drift away and not really notice it until it becomes painful. haha.
Anyway, I'd recommend the book for easy reading - and perhaps you have a better attention span than I and you'll make it through the entirety of the novel. Despite my lack of focus during my reading of this book, I walk away from it with a deeper respect for those who live in truly religiously oppressive countries as well as a desire to have the deep intuition of the spirit that Bilquis had in the book. Because really - walking the Spirit is soooo much better than walking away. Right??? the answer is yes... :)
Friday, October 24, 2008
Facedown
"Facedown worship always begins as a posture of the heart. It's when we are so desperate for the increase of Christ that we find ourselves decreasing to the ground in an act of reverent submission - becoming so captivated by the Almighty that to bend low in true and total surrender seems the only appropriate response."
Excerpted from "Facedown" by Matt Redman. Pg 14.
I don't have any profound thoughts about this, but I read it and it struck a chord with my heart....how great to be in such awe of the Lord. How easy it is to take God for granted and stop being captivated by His majesty. Isn't He AMAZING?
Excerpted from "Facedown" by Matt Redman. Pg 14.
I don't have any profound thoughts about this, but I read it and it struck a chord with my heart....how great to be in such awe of the Lord. How easy it is to take God for granted and stop being captivated by His majesty. Isn't He AMAZING?
$$$$$$
I'm in the process of figuring out what I want to do in the future...and just so you know - Grad School is reallly realllllly expensive! Boo :( I'm still looking into it anyway...I've certainly discovered that I can't work at Washington Mutual forever. But I have committed to a year here, and that is what it will be....hopefully a more interesting post will be coming soon.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Spanish and Sunshine
A couple days ago at work I got my first opportunity to talk to a customer in Spanish....He came up trying to get a money order, but was very confused when I tried to ask him some simple questions about his transaction. It was pretty apparent that he was not a native English speaker, but I was trying to be culturally sensitive and not assume he was latino (something I've become very aware of since getting back to the states). However, when he finally understood that I was asking for 2 pieces of ID, he pulled out a drivers license and a Permanent Resident Card (GREEN CARD). He was from Mexico. So then I just asked him (in Spanish of course..) if he spoke Spanish. At first I think he was so shocked he didn't know what to say....I'm sure his thoughts were something along the lines of "crazy white girl, how does she know my language?...or, is she messing with me?" Needless to say, when he recovered from the shock he was quite pleased and I was easily able to explain the transaction to him in Spanish. After a few moments of silence while I processed, he finally asked me the question I was anticipating...."....Where did you learn Spanish?!" After I told him that I spent some time in South American, naturally he inquired as to what part of South America. We went on to talk about Venezuela - and you'll never believe it.....His wife is from Venezuela! and their daughter was born there.....how random??! Then we talked about Merida, he had visited there AND his wife's sister lives there.....just goes to show what an incredibly small world we live in!! We ended up talking for a significant while even after I had processed his transaction, we talked mostly about Venezuela and especially about how different the Venezuelan accent is from the Mexican one (of course, in his opinion the Mexican one was better....I chose not to debate it, seeing as how I've never been to Mexico). Anyway, it was fun to talk to him, especially because no one around could really understand what we were saying, except Allyson who understands some Spanish. And of course, it warmed my heart to speak and think of my beloved Venezuela :) I think of it often....and certainly now that winter is upon us here in the PNW! It chills me to the bone the moment I'm out of bed in the morning, and I had to scrape ice off of my windshield for the first time in a loooooooong time. Merida weather sounds more than perfect to me right now.....mmmmm sunshine.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
NEWS....
I chatted with my neighbor Jake again today....he asked me if I could fit in the trunk of my car (which, so that it makes more sense, was open when he asked)....but still, a little odd. I think the thing is that he's very friendly and outgoing, he just doesn't know what are appropriate topics of conversation. So yeah....anyway......
Newest headlines in my life:
Washington Mutual (my work) was bought out by JP, Morgan & Chase. What does that change for me? Absolutely nothing! Lol, and it doesn't change anything for WaMu customers either......
This weekend I went "home" to Sequim (hometown) for the wild celebration of my Grandma's and Mother's birthdays :) It was a great weekend (albeit quiet) with the family and my cat. I really enjoyed my time away, simply relaxing and laughing over a birthday steak dinner on Saturday. This pic isn't the most recent (it's actually from *my* birthday, in August) but I finally stole it off my mom's camera, so I'm adding it....
Newest headlines in my life:
Washington Mutual (my work) was bought out by JP, Morgan & Chase. What does that change for me? Absolutely nothing! Lol, and it doesn't change anything for WaMu customers either......
This weekend I went "home" to Sequim (hometown) for the wild celebration of my Grandma's and Mother's birthdays :) It was a great weekend (albeit quiet) with the family and my cat. I really enjoyed my time away, simply relaxing and laughing over a birthday steak dinner on Saturday. This pic isn't the most recent (it's actually from *my* birthday, in August) but I finally stole it off my mom's camera, so I'm adding it....
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
good ol' fashioned....
Well, thanks for the positive reinforcement guys, you have officially aided in my decision to continue writing....I will no longer be mentioning such things as riots and tear gas, toilet paper outages, and crazy chance encounters with local crazies in the street, however, here is the latest anecdote in my currently mild life....
Today (I wrote this yesterday) I met one of my neighbors! Weird right? Maybe this is not true where you live, but in Seattle - we really don't go out of our way to talk to people we don't know, as a general rule. I include myself in that, although I've even been known to be a little more outgoing than most (which has resulted in startling and confusing poor elevator riders simply hoping to get to their floors and locked safely behind apartment doors without any human contact). However today I was in a 'Seattle state of mind'...and I walked up the stairs at a brisk pace, pausing momentarily to smile politely and nod at the fellow on the stairs. He however, awkwardly said hello with the courteous nod as well, but then....launched into conversation! But, because I was already in motion and not expecting him to begin with any sort of real dialogue did not anticipate the need to halt soon enough. So we began to have a conversation as I slowly halted my ascent on the stairwell (by this time I was a good 5-6 stairs above him) and had a conversation from there. Mostly it consisted of, introductions and then him asking if my sister drove 'that car' (pointing to my car...) I, mildly amused, and more so confused, corrected him that it was in fact my car (as I had just exited it, moments before climbing the stairs) and that I didn't have a sister. Apparently he either thought that Tracy was my sister, or that the other girl he had seen was not me, but in fact someone who looked similar to me and drove my car. He then proceeded to ask me about the BMW parked next to my car, and if my sister owned that one. LOL. Needless to say - it was a rather awkward and forced conversation but I enjoyed it immensely nonetheless. It's nice to know your neighbors - even if their perception of you is a little bit skewed. So, now I have met Jake, the Asian man in (I'm totally guessing) his mid 40s, who smiles a lot, wears sandals that remind me of Chris Cho's, and doesn't seem to have a good grasp on reality. But who knows....maybe now if I ever need to borrow a cup of sugar, I'll know where to go :)
Today (I wrote this yesterday) I met one of my neighbors! Weird right? Maybe this is not true where you live, but in Seattle - we really don't go out of our way to talk to people we don't know, as a general rule. I include myself in that, although I've even been known to be a little more outgoing than most (which has resulted in startling and confusing poor elevator riders simply hoping to get to their floors and locked safely behind apartment doors without any human contact). However today I was in a 'Seattle state of mind'...and I walked up the stairs at a brisk pace, pausing momentarily to smile politely and nod at the fellow on the stairs. He however, awkwardly said hello with the courteous nod as well, but then....launched into conversation! But, because I was already in motion and not expecting him to begin with any sort of real dialogue did not anticipate the need to halt soon enough. So we began to have a conversation as I slowly halted my ascent on the stairwell (by this time I was a good 5-6 stairs above him) and had a conversation from there. Mostly it consisted of, introductions and then him asking if my sister drove 'that car' (pointing to my car...) I, mildly amused, and more so confused, corrected him that it was in fact my car (as I had just exited it, moments before climbing the stairs) and that I didn't have a sister. Apparently he either thought that Tracy was my sister, or that the other girl he had seen was not me, but in fact someone who looked similar to me and drove my car. He then proceeded to ask me about the BMW parked next to my car, and if my sister owned that one. LOL. Needless to say - it was a rather awkward and forced conversation but I enjoyed it immensely nonetheless. It's nice to know your neighbors - even if their perception of you is a little bit skewed. So, now I have met Jake, the Asian man in (I'm totally guessing) his mid 40s, who smiles a lot, wears sandals that remind me of Chris Cho's, and doesn't seem to have a good grasp on reality. But who knows....maybe now if I ever need to borrow a cup of sugar, I'll know where to go :)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
maybe....just maybe
Hey friends, I don't know that there are many left of you out there who still look at this...but I wanted you to know that I am contemplating keeping it open. I recognize that I'm no longer on such an up-front adventure as I was this past year - however, you never know what life is going to throw your way. That said, I'm going to leave this open for occasional anecdotes from my life, photos or perhaps book/movie reviews.
As for a quick update on my life, I'm living in Lynnwood with Tracy (good friend from college), working at Washington Mutual in Edmonds, and taking this year to figure out what I want to do with my life (and work on paying those students loans!) Right now, the plan is to head towards getting my teaching credential next fall, but who really knows, the Big Guy upstairs is always changin' my plans. I really miss Venezuela, and I miss my teammates, but I'm doing my best to start-over here in the US. Right now, my best friend is the local library (as I have no money, and no friends within visiting distance....free book usage will substitute for company for the time being). I'm eager to see how the next year of my life will unfold....
As for a quick update on my life, I'm living in Lynnwood with Tracy (good friend from college), working at Washington Mutual in Edmonds, and taking this year to figure out what I want to do with my life (and work on paying those students loans!) Right now, the plan is to head towards getting my teaching credential next fall, but who really knows, the Big Guy upstairs is always changin' my plans. I really miss Venezuela, and I miss my teammates, but I'm doing my best to start-over here in the US. Right now, my best friend is the local library (as I have no money, and no friends within visiting distance....free book usage will substitute for company for the time being). I'm eager to see how the next year of my life will unfold....
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Presentation
For all you Sequim/Port Angeles people out there, I am doing a presentation this Sunday about my time and work in Venezuela, I would love for you to be there! I'm hoping to be able to answer a lot of questions and share my incredible experience with all of you :)
Sunday, August 24th 6:30 pm
Olympic Vineyard Christian Fellowship
3415 South Peabody Street, Port Angeles, WA
Hope to see you there, Chelsea
Sunday, August 24th 6:30 pm
Olympic Vineyard Christian Fellowship
3415 South Peabody Street, Port Angeles, WA
Hope to see you there, Chelsea
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Welcome Home Us
We're back...dun dun dun. That's right folks, I stepped foot on American soil last Wednesday. After 2 days of travel and 11 hours on planes, almost missing a connecting flight, 3 hour delays, and one lost bag....We made it! Praise the Lord :) Seeing my parents and Grandma at the airport was the most amazing feeling. Here are the three of us, after many many hours on planes, but oh so happy to be back....
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
7
We had our final meeting with our servant team and officially handed over the ministry to them. How exciting! Here they are, they are great students truly committed to the Lord. 
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
19
19 days, less than 3 weeks! Until we leave Merida....I can't believe it. It feels very surreal....My mix of emotions includes excitement/sadness/worry/confusion/anxiousness/glee/anticipation....and a million others. These last three weeks we are mainly focusing on making sure the students are fully equipped to run everything without us...as well as concluding all the details of living here (ie: moving everything into the storage facility (that's an hour away...ugh), re-painting the apartment, paying/ending bills, flight information, storage of weekly meeting equipment, etc etc etc...) Therefore I don't have anything super exciting to write about...However....here are a few picture updates of life recently.
Like I said in my last blog, my friend Rafael came to visit from the States (although...he could easily pass for a Venezuelan with his Salvadorian heritage) and we had a great time hanging out....like the old days when I was on project!
Lucia, my closest friend and disciple here, finished her classes and headed off for family vacation in England (to visit a sister there) and so for our last lunch together we went up into the mountains to a castle! It was freezing, but fun :)
Rafa and I took a trip to the zoo....
The summer project took over English Club, and they're doing a great job leading it with a ton of enthusiasm!
We had a goodbye fiesta for Eben...he got to dance with EVERY lady in the house! 
Rafa and I also had fun trying to figure out what we were doing...haha.
Riots have begun again...this time they are protesting death. Ironically, the day after the first protest, a medicine student was shot. This has only spurred on the riots....
The whole apartment needs to be repainted as we're moving out, so Amanda have been using our nights and weekends to do that.....and having a little fun with it as well ;)
I apologize for the lack of ministry updates at this time, we are definitely in the winding down process. This week will be my last discipleship appointments with my girls, and the rest will mostly be moving out stuff....Today is our last big meeting with the servant team, and we will be commissioning the new leaders to LEAD their movement next year...I'm excited to see how it goes....and see them take ownership.
Like I said in my last blog, my friend Rafael came to visit from the States (although...he could easily pass for a Venezuelan with his Salvadorian heritage) and we had a great time hanging out....like the old days when I was on project!
Lucia, my closest friend and disciple here, finished her classes and headed off for family vacation in England (to visit a sister there) and so for our last lunch together we went up into the mountains to a castle! It was freezing, but fun :)
Rafa and I took a trip to the zoo....
The summer project took over English Club, and they're doing a great job leading it with a ton of enthusiasm!
We had a goodbye fiesta for Eben...he got to dance with EVERY lady in the house! 
Rafa and I also had fun trying to figure out what we were doing...haha.
Riots have begun again...this time they are protesting death. Ironically, the day after the first protest, a medicine student was shot. This has only spurred on the riots....
The whole apartment needs to be repainted as we're moving out, so Amanda have been using our nights and weekends to do that.....and having a little fun with it as well ;)
I apologize for the lack of ministry updates at this time, we are definitely in the winding down process. This week will be my last discipleship appointments with my girls, and the rest will mostly be moving out stuff....Today is our last big meeting with the servant team, and we will be commissioning the new leaders to LEAD their movement next year...I'm excited to see how it goes....and see them take ownership.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Lately...
Hello folks...it's been a while I do realize that. First and foremost in the post I would like to put to rest the conversation of "a bushel?" It has been confirmed for me by 7 different people that the lyrics are, in fact, "Hide it under a bushel? no!". Yay!! Some small sense of triumph (and thank you much to a humble Eben who even conceded his own defeat after much googling...) LOL.
Secondly, what has been going on in Merida lately?! A LOT! Perhaps that why I've been lax in my writing and keeping up on this blog lately. Let me see if I can sum up a bit through usage a few pics (blogs just aren't as much fun without them!)
Amanda and I hosted our "last" English club (because the summer project is taking over this charge) and we had a lot of fun playing a big game of jeopardy to review all the things we have taught this year....
Lucia and I have become frequenters of a local pastelito place....maybe too frequent, lol.
Our team took a trip to the Coromoto Ice Cream store that features the most flavors in the world (featured in the Guinness Book of World Records).....including some really weird ones!
We spent hours in the plaza waiting for ....drumroll....the SUMMER PROJECT to get here!! It's true, they are here folks, healthy and whole and in MERIDA. We have a had a lot of fun so far getting to know them and they bring a TON of energy to us old folks who have now been here for over 9 months (wow!!)....They have already seen many students come to Christ as they've been sharing on campus and inviting students to our weekly meeting.....
Amanda turned 25!!
We had a fiesta for the birthday of Amanda and Kelly (one of our students) as well as the arrival of the summer project....They got to learn to dance, Venezuelan style ;)
Rafael Turcios came to visit!! Jesus, Lucia and I were his welcoming committee in the airport....
We may have had some car troubles :( :S....welcome back Rafa!
In reference to a previous blog...here is the total for a tank of gas...less than 3 Bolivares...that's less than a dollar - TOTAL!
Secondly, what has been going on in Merida lately?! A LOT! Perhaps that why I've been lax in my writing and keeping up on this blog lately. Let me see if I can sum up a bit through usage a few pics (blogs just aren't as much fun without them!)
Amanda and I hosted our "last" English club (because the summer project is taking over this charge) and we had a lot of fun playing a big game of jeopardy to review all the things we have taught this year....
Lucia and I have become frequenters of a local pastelito place....maybe too frequent, lol.
Our team took a trip to the Coromoto Ice Cream store that features the most flavors in the world (featured in the Guinness Book of World Records).....including some really weird ones!
We spent hours in the plaza waiting for ....drumroll....the SUMMER PROJECT to get here!! It's true, they are here folks, healthy and whole and in MERIDA. We have a had a lot of fun so far getting to know them and they bring a TON of energy to us old folks who have now been here for over 9 months (wow!!)....They have already seen many students come to Christ as they've been sharing on campus and inviting students to our weekly meeting.....
Amanda turned 25!!
We had a fiesta for the birthday of Amanda and Kelly (one of our students) as well as the arrival of the summer project....They got to learn to dance, Venezuelan style ;)
Rafael Turcios came to visit!! Jesus, Lucia and I were his welcoming committee in the airport....
We may have had some car troubles :( :S....welcome back Rafa!
In reference to a previous blog...here is the total for a tank of gas...less than 3 Bolivares...that's less than a dollar - TOTAL!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
a bushel?
Conversation I had yesterday (in the middle of a staff meeting)....
Ivan (paraphrased) : How can we really let ourselves be known as Christians?
Me: Well, not hide it under a bushel.
Eben (sitting next to me with confused face): What??
Me: You know...(with hand motions and singing voice from "This Little Light of Mine") "hide it under a bushel? - NO!!"
Eben: hahahahahahahaha
Me: what??
Eben: It's not bushel!! It's "hide it under a bush? - oh no!" You can't hide things under a measurement!
*I tried to google the lyrics but it keeps coming up with random versions that don't contain the "bushel" part.....does anyone agree with me, or did someone poorly teach me the song as kid? hahahah. oops. 22 years later, I think I've got it figured out.*
For anyone who is interested a bushel is a unit of dry volume, usually subdivided into eight local gallons in the systems of Imperial units and U.S. customary units. (wikipedia)
I always thought it was a measurement of a woven basket of apples....I think Reading Rainbow messed with my mind as a child.
Ivan (paraphrased) : How can we really let ourselves be known as Christians?
Me: Well, not hide it under a bushel.
Eben (sitting next to me with confused face): What??
Me: You know...(with hand motions and singing voice from "This Little Light of Mine") "hide it under a bushel? - NO!!"
Eben: hahahahahahahaha
Me: what??
Eben: It's not bushel!! It's "hide it under a bush? - oh no!" You can't hide things under a measurement!
*I tried to google the lyrics but it keeps coming up with random versions that don't contain the "bushel" part.....does anyone agree with me, or did someone poorly teach me the song as kid? hahahah. oops. 22 years later, I think I've got it figured out.*
For anyone who is interested a bushel is a unit of dry volume, usually subdivided into eight local gallons in the systems of Imperial units and U.S. customary units. (wikipedia)
I always thought it was a measurement of a woven basket of apples....I think Reading Rainbow messed with my mind as a child.
Monday, June 2, 2008
just to rub it in a bit....
I hear you're paying over $4 a gallon for gas in the states these days?
I went out with a friend who has a car last night.....she put Premium in her car for roughly 36 cents a gallon....unleaded runs at about 12 cents.......
Now if only I could bring THAT back with me, lol.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Teleférico/Bye Sarah...
A week or so ago the team took it's final outing together as a whole.....Mérida is home to the highest cable car (teleférico) in the world. I have actually been on it before (with my summer project) and so I got to enjoy a second trip up the mountain (to Pico Espejo). It was pretty cold at the top! 
The trip up to the final station....
The team nestled in a rock....
It's a little chilly up there!
It was our last team outing because Sarah left us this week as she is headed back to the states to re-raise her support for next year. Our dearest Maracuchan will also be departing from us shortly as she is headed back to her beloved Maracaibo to raise support as well. Both of them will be working with the team in Caracas next year. Please pray for them as they raise support! The other 4 of us will be continuing on with ministry as usual for now :) and making the most of our last 2 months in this beautiful city.
The trip up to the final station....
The team nestled in a rock....
It's a little chilly up there!It was our last team outing because Sarah left us this week as she is headed back to the states to re-raise her support for next year. Our dearest Maracuchan will also be departing from us shortly as she is headed back to her beloved Maracaibo to raise support as well. Both of them will be working with the team in Caracas next year. Please pray for them as they raise support! The other 4 of us will be continuing on with ministry as usual for now :) and making the most of our last 2 months in this beautiful city.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Religious
"I believe that the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time. This is why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If he can sink a man's mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging God....." - excerpted from Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, pg 13
Christmas in May?
Ok so this post may be another one mostly for my mom...but just in case there are any other artsy/craftsy types out there (like my mom and I) I thought I'd share that I finally finished the winter crossstitch I had started in September. (I ran out of white thread in December) and had to have it shipped to Venezuela....I finally got it at the end of April and was able to finish.....Only 5 months too late, or 7 months too early for Christmas :)
P.S. This is my 100th post! I was hoping to have something more exciting to write about, but I've been in bed sick with the flu for 4 days and don't have much energy, let alone excitement :S Hopefully something more exciting will be coming soon....stay tuned :)
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Mothers are Wonderful Things
Happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful Mothers out there:) I know that there are definitely some that read this blog, and to each of you I wish you days filled with joy and hopes that those you love are close enough to hug today....
On that note...I am not within hugging distance of my mom, nor of my grandmothers. :( This is one of the days it's really hard to be in another country. So in lieu of that I am writing them a shout-out in this way, to say Thank You for being in my life.
Mom....thank you for being who you are. Thank you for reading the Little House books over and over when we were younger. Thanks for letting us toilet paper our own house, just to have fun at a slumber party. Thanks for my surprise 8th grade graduation cake. Thanks for always being the mom who showed up for everything in school. Thanks for making my costumes - princess, ballerina, Mary Ingalls....and helping with booktalks and dioramas, Thanks
for letting me watch Grease when I got my braces on. Thanks for sending me many more care packages than any of the other kids ever got. Thanks for coming to Seattle when I broke my foot, and taking care of me, even though I should be old enough to take care of myself by now. Thank you for letting me come to Venezuela, no matter how scared you were. Mom, you've always been there when I needed you. More than anything, thank you for not letting me go when things are hard. I love you and I miss you sooo much.
Grandma Jean....Thank you for always always being faithful. Thank you for coming to
every swim meet or tennis match or band concert. Thank you for letting us help decorate your house for the holidays. Thanks for letting me help with the lasagna or sugar cookies or...divinity!! Haha.Thanks for being silly with us sometimes and putting up with all our teasing. Thank you so much for supporting me to come to Venezuela, even though I know it was not exactly what you were expecting me to do with my life :) Thanks for your emails, and more importantly thank you for your prayers. I love you, and I miss you so much.
Grandma Sal - Thank you so much for being fabulous :) Thank you for birthday cards and Christmas cards and presents. Thank you for taking me shopping and to the beach. Thanks for letting us jump on you to wake up in the morning. Thanks for making the best pot roast and meatloaf! Thanks for buying the little boxes of cereal and bottles of apple juice. Thanks for being beautiful and stylish and encouraging us to be the same. Thank you so much for being my beautiful grandmother, I love you and miss you so much.
You all mean the world to me! I will be home in 80 short days! Wishing you the happiest of happy Mother's days :)
P.S. Special shout-out as well to Beth Coonts, who I've become aware reads this blog. I've never met you, but your daughter and I have spent many hours comparing how much we miss our mothers and telling anecdotes of you two. I'm sure I'll meet you someday...until then, Happy Mother's Day, God Bless :)
On that note...I am not within hugging distance of my mom, nor of my grandmothers. :( This is one of the days it's really hard to be in another country. So in lieu of that I am writing them a shout-out in this way, to say Thank You for being in my life.
Mom....thank you for being who you are. Thank you for reading the Little House books over and over when we were younger. Thanks for letting us toilet paper our own house, just to have fun at a slumber party. Thanks for my surprise 8th grade graduation cake. Thanks for always being the mom who showed up for everything in school. Thanks for making my costumes - princess, ballerina, Mary Ingalls....and helping with booktalks and dioramas, Thanks
for letting me watch Grease when I got my braces on. Thanks for sending me many more care packages than any of the other kids ever got. Thanks for coming to Seattle when I broke my foot, and taking care of me, even though I should be old enough to take care of myself by now. Thank you for letting me come to Venezuela, no matter how scared you were. Mom, you've always been there when I needed you. More than anything, thank you for not letting me go when things are hard. I love you and I miss you sooo much.Grandma Jean....Thank you for always always being faithful. Thank you for coming to
every swim meet or tennis match or band concert. Thank you for letting us help decorate your house for the holidays. Thanks for letting me help with the lasagna or sugar cookies or...divinity!! Haha.Thanks for being silly with us sometimes and putting up with all our teasing. Thank you so much for supporting me to come to Venezuela, even though I know it was not exactly what you were expecting me to do with my life :) Thanks for your emails, and more importantly thank you for your prayers. I love you, and I miss you so much.
Grandma Sal - Thank you so much for being fabulous :) Thank you for birthday cards and Christmas cards and presents. Thank you for taking me shopping and to the beach. Thanks for letting us jump on you to wake up in the morning. Thanks for making the best pot roast and meatloaf! Thanks for buying the little boxes of cereal and bottles of apple juice. Thanks for being beautiful and stylish and encouraging us to be the same. Thank you so much for being my beautiful grandmother, I love you and miss you so much.You all mean the world to me! I will be home in 80 short days! Wishing you the happiest of happy Mother's days :)
P.S. Special shout-out as well to Beth Coonts, who I've become aware reads this blog. I've never met you, but your daughter and I have spent many hours comparing how much we miss our mothers and telling anecdotes of you two. I'm sure I'll meet you someday...until then, Happy Mother's Day, God Bless :)
Friday, May 9, 2008
"Everything"
Tonight, I was witness to a "drama" about Christ and how much He fights for us, basically. It brought me to tears, thinking about how much the Lord chose to suffer for us, and how hard He fights for us now....the song that went with is was "Everything" by Lifehouse....I guess I had never really thought about the lyrics before now, but they really touched my heart....here they are for you, I encourage you to read them and/or buy the song off of itunes, it's worth it :)
Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place where I find peace again.
You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose...you're everything.
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.
You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Cause you're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything,everything
You're all I want your all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want you're all I need.
You're everything, everything
You're all I want you're all I need, you're everything, everything.
And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
*Please Lord, I want to be moved by You......there's truly nothing better than this. You are Everything*
Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place where I find peace again.
You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose...you're everything.
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.
You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Cause you're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything,everything
You're all I want your all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want you're all I need.
You're everything, everything
You're all I want you're all I need, you're everything, everything.
And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
*Please Lord, I want to be moved by You......there's truly nothing better than this. You are Everything*
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Curacao
For our third and final VISA renewal trip, we went to a small island off the coast of VZ called Curacao it is one of the "ABC" islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao) all part of the Dutch Antilles. Interestingly for that reason - the most common language is Dutch! Followed by Papiamento (a mix of a native language, English, Dutch, and Spanish), then Spanish and finally English. Actually most of the English that was spoken was very limited, and we found it easier to communicate in Spanish (our now second language, as we are all pretty much capable of the language). Mostly, despite HORRIBLE, and I do truly mean that delays, cancelations and all around travel nightmares....we spent 4 days in Curacao relaxing, exploring, and eating some good food - prepping for the last three months of ministry. I've posted photo albums with pics from Caracas and Curacao....but I'll put up a few here with captions so you can see a tid bit of the experience :)
We were amused by the translation on this card, please no "spindling"
The cute little bungalow which was our home for our trip.
Who would want to buy this shampoo?! Eek!
The car we rented was REALLY tiny for the 4 of us!
Just a cool view of some downtown stores....
The girls, on the floating bridge.
Oddly enough, Curacao is home to an ostrich farm!
It's also home to an African restaurant....featuring Ostrich plates....I had a wrap....tastes like beef!
You might think this is silly, but there was a DENNYS in Curacao and we got super exited for American food! (especially after the ostrich meat!)
There are big lizards everywhere!
We got to visit the "Hato Caves" that were carved out by the ocean.
"Hato Caves" - slaves used to hide here and do religious services where their masters wouldn't find out. Cool!
The beaches, of course, were gorgeous!
Our last night we got dressed up and went to a nice dinner....the restaurant was on the ocean and we got to watch the waves crashing as we ate, it was a cool experience :)
Well I think that's all folks....It was a great trip of course, but I'm glad to be back in beautiful Merida and looking forward to our last three months of ministry here. Please keep us in your prayers!
We were amused by the translation on this card, please no "spindling"
The cute little bungalow which was our home for our trip.
Who would want to buy this shampoo?! Eek!
The car we rented was REALLY tiny for the 4 of us!
Just a cool view of some downtown stores....
The girls, on the floating bridge.
Oddly enough, Curacao is home to an ostrich farm!
It's also home to an African restaurant....featuring Ostrich plates....I had a wrap....tastes like beef!
You might think this is silly, but there was a DENNYS in Curacao and we got super exited for American food! (especially after the ostrich meat!)
There are big lizards everywhere!
We got to visit the "Hato Caves" that were carved out by the ocean.
"Hato Caves" - slaves used to hide here and do religious services where their masters wouldn't find out. Cool!
The beaches, of course, were gorgeous!
Our last night we got dressed up and went to a nice dinner....the restaurant was on the ocean and we got to watch the waves crashing as we ate, it was a cool experience :)Well I think that's all folks....It was a great trip of course, but I'm glad to be back in beautiful Merida and looking forward to our last three months of ministry here. Please keep us in your prayers!
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