It is so good to be back at Whitworth.
I love the campus, and the professors, and my classmates, and dance aerobics classes, and the Corner House, and biking around with hipster undergrads...the list doesn't stop.
God is receving near constant Thank you's and Alleluia's from me. I'm reading Exodus right now and I can't help identifying with the deliverance theme. Okay okay, I'm being melodramatic and the Tri-Cities doesn't really compare with slavery. But, I can still be thankful.
The first week of MIT was exhausting and I was just trying to keep my head above water. I'm in a groove now and soaking up the 7 hours of lecture each day. At lunch, I played frisbee with a couple of guys from my classes and about 20 of us went to Taste of Thai tonight. Tomorrow we get to hear what Analisa's cohort has been researching during their time in the program.
Things with my parents are not so good. Prayers are welcome. I'm a bit worried about the way Cameron will deal with everything.
I'm planning on checking out Hoopfest this weekend and hanging out with one of my friends from high school in Cour d'Alene. Maybe I'll post some pictures next blog!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Va-vi-va-va...
...as my dear friends Rylie and Borat would say. This post is going to be drastically different from the last. So much has happened in the course of two weeks. I have some things to praise about:
- My lower back (that I screwed up in November) is healing. I don't know what was wrong with it or how it is getting better, but I thank God that I have most of my range of motion back.
- I am done with my job at Habitat. Definitely a hard decision to make but I know it's the right one. I have learned a lot about myself and the type of work environment I need. I will never hold another desk job again, if I can help it. I want to be on my feet, moving around, among young people and hopefully near a window.
- The Whitworth MITprogram accepted me into the 2011 cohort! Also a crazy-fast life switch but I'm so excited. I'll be in school (my comfort zone), around Whitworth professors and staff, and working toward a fulfilling career.
- I have a place to live for the summer. I'll be back in the Corner House for June and July and then it looks like I'll be travelling around a bit in August.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Bullet Points
Things that you might want to know...
- Danika and Ebay came down to the Tri-Cities for Carl Chan's wedding. A great time was had by all even though the weekend didn't last long enough!
- I've been seriously depressed about my job for the past month, I had a breakdown on Tuesday and left work because I couldn't stop crying, talked to my boss the next day and had my job description changed. I'm trying to take it day by day now, knowing that Habitat is temporary. I might be there for another week or another year--as long as I need it to pay my loans off.
- I went to a counselor to get help with my job predicament. He put things into focus and told me to evaluate why I'm working at Habitat and make the job work for me. As long as it fulfills certain needs and wants in my life, it's worth the unpleasant moments. If ever it stops fulfilling those needs, I'm free to leave and explore something else.
- I'm applying for an MIT program put on through the community college in town. YAY! It will be 5 semesters straight of Friday and Saturday classes but eventually I will get to teach. Again, if the program isn't a fit or if I decide that I really don't want to teach, I'm unattached and willing to let it go.
- After working through some of these tougher what-does-the-future-have-in-store-for-me questions, I realized that I still have a travel bug and being "stuck" in the Tri-Cities is a self-imposed problem. So, I'm looking for plane tickets to travel to Chile in December and thinking of going on a Eurotrip next July. Anybody interested?
Monday, May 9, 2011
On Saturday at 2PM I left the Habitat Office after tearing down the biggest event that I have ever put on. The Walk Home 5K/1mi saga is over. Hallelujah!
I really did enjoy myself the day of the event but the stress was so oppressive leading up to it. I woke up at 4:45AM because my upper-back/chest pain decided to beat my alarm clock to the punch. I picked up coffee for the volunteers, directed the traffic cones and stage to their respective places, ran to retrieve tables, chairs, food, paper etc., made some announcements, counted money and talked to our sponsors. It was great to see E-bay and Analisa show up with a Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks and catch my breath--you girls know me so well!
After a failed attempt at a nap at home the girls drove me to Spokane where my family and I met up with Ali who just got back from Central America. We ate way too much restaurant food and spent a couple hours debriefing about the students' reentry into American culture. We spent 6 hours bonding as I picked dead lice eggs out of her hair on Sunday night. The little suckers (ha!) are a real pain in the bum but we got to talk and watch I30 Rock together. I'm excited to hear more about her adventures when she gets home on Thursday.
Josh Cleveland (RD) met up with me for coffee at Pleasant Blends in Spookaloo. We talked about vocation and fulfillment and God. He's so great. I really appreciated him listening and giving me feedback about my life situation.
I'm off to small group now. It's Italian night. Ciao!
I really did enjoy myself the day of the event but the stress was so oppressive leading up to it. I woke up at 4:45AM because my upper-back/chest pain decided to beat my alarm clock to the punch. I picked up coffee for the volunteers, directed the traffic cones and stage to their respective places, ran to retrieve tables, chairs, food, paper etc., made some announcements, counted money and talked to our sponsors. It was great to see E-bay and Analisa show up with a Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks and catch my breath--you girls know me so well!
After a failed attempt at a nap at home the girls drove me to Spokane where my family and I met up with Ali who just got back from Central America. We ate way too much restaurant food and spent a couple hours debriefing about the students' reentry into American culture. We spent 6 hours bonding as I picked dead lice eggs out of her hair on Sunday night. The little suckers (ha!) are a real pain in the bum but we got to talk and watch I30 Rock together. I'm excited to hear more about her adventures when she gets home on Thursday.
Josh Cleveland (RD) met up with me for coffee at Pleasant Blends in Spookaloo. We talked about vocation and fulfillment and God. He's so great. I really appreciated him listening and giving me feedback about my life situation.
I'm off to small group now. It's Italian night. Ciao!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Maybe today!
Good morning Monday. It's good to see you again. I was toying with the thought ofgoing in to work today but you, my weekend, are too relaxing to leave. I'll leave Tuesday through Saturday for the phone calls and planning. Today is meant for recovery and preparation.
Saturday is the culmination of a project I've been working on since December--The Walk Home 5K/1mi for Habitat. There is so much that has come together to make it possible and I am going to need to cling close to God this week to avoid the stress and anxiety that could precede the big event. Analisa is coming into Kennewick to run the 5K and spend some time with me and I'm so excited to see her. Ande was right in her message to us this past week--the Corner House girls are an island of joy and peace among the sea of stress and unknowns. I love you girls so much.
I'm reading The Shack by William P. Young and it's an answered prayer. I have been struggling with stress and overcommitment and it paints a beautiful picture of what truly counts--a relationship with God. The book tells the story of a desperate man who goes out into the woods to spend the weekend with the Trinity. In the last chapter I read, the Holy Spirit (in the form of an asian woman who loves to garden), explains that humanity's determination to define good and evil and our lust for control has lead us away from the relationship for which we were created.
I see this happen over and over again in my own life: I feel lost and frantic so I make rules and try to keep everything under control. I overcrowd my life with activities that I "should" do, things that I decide are part of God's will for me. I end up overcome by anxiety, carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. My body physically screams at me to let go of the burden and still I don't trust God to take over.
I came across a Bible verse this morning and it goes along with what God keeps revealing:
1 Corinthians 15: 24, 26 "Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power...The last enemy to be destroyed is death."
Once again I need Jesus to destroy the dominion, authority, and power that I try to wield. Again I hand my life over for God's kingdom. There is no doubt in my mind that I will lose focus and return to this place of desperation. What hope we have in the promise to be part of a perfect kingdom someday. Maybe today :)
Saturday is the culmination of a project I've been working on since December--The Walk Home 5K/1mi for Habitat. There is so much that has come together to make it possible and I am going to need to cling close to God this week to avoid the stress and anxiety that could precede the big event. Analisa is coming into Kennewick to run the 5K and spend some time with me and I'm so excited to see her. Ande was right in her message to us this past week--the Corner House girls are an island of joy and peace among the sea of stress and unknowns. I love you girls so much.
I'm reading The Shack by William P. Young and it's an answered prayer. I have been struggling with stress and overcommitment and it paints a beautiful picture of what truly counts--a relationship with God. The book tells the story of a desperate man who goes out into the woods to spend the weekend with the Trinity. In the last chapter I read, the Holy Spirit (in the form of an asian woman who loves to garden), explains that humanity's determination to define good and evil and our lust for control has lead us away from the relationship for which we were created.
I see this happen over and over again in my own life: I feel lost and frantic so I make rules and try to keep everything under control. I overcrowd my life with activities that I "should" do, things that I decide are part of God's will for me. I end up overcome by anxiety, carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. My body physically screams at me to let go of the burden and still I don't trust God to take over.
I came across a Bible verse this morning and it goes along with what God keeps revealing:
1 Corinthians 15: 24, 26 "Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power...The last enemy to be destroyed is death."
Once again I need Jesus to destroy the dominion, authority, and power that I try to wield. Again I hand my life over for God's kingdom. There is no doubt in my mind that I will lose focus and return to this place of desperation. What hope we have in the promise to be part of a perfect kingdom someday. Maybe today :)
Monday, April 25, 2011
Psalm 6
I have been away from the blogging world for about a month I'm guessing. Finally, on my Monday morning off, I feel like I have some time to check up on my friends and post an update as well.
The truth is that I haven't made time in the past month to do anything unplanned or truly relaxing. Even my downtime has been plagued by an intrinsic motivation to be productive. Enjoyable activities like playing guitar have become pressured practice. Coffee dates are dreaded appointments and girls night is more of a commitment than a time to chill.
I've also been really crippled by the pain in my lower back since November. As a lot of you know, I've struggled with pain in my chest and upper back and that came back as well last week. Past experience has led me to believe that most of this pain is a result of emotional, mental and physical stress. So last weekend I had to reevaluate my perpetual productivity and ask myself for the millionth time why I keep coming back to this pit of stress and anxiety.
Before I could fully process the twisted inner workings of my mind I started to cut the stressors out. Last Monday I went into the ESL class where I tutor and said that I wouldn't be coming back for a while. After that, I went to my old high school and told Mr. Simpson that I wouldn't be taking guitar lessons for the next three weeks. On Wednesday I told our local sports bar manager that I would no longer be available to organize trivia nights. I cancelled my ridiculously expensive physical therapy sessions and skipped out on girls night. I let my friends, family and coworkers know how stressed out I was and I prayed a lot.
Please pray for me if you read this. I believe Christ has the power to take all of this physical and emotional pain away and I hope that it will end soon. If you're reading this, you're probably one of my closest friends so if you see me becoming too involved and obsessed with productivity, please remind me what happens when I get too far down that path. Ok time to read what's happening in YOUR lives.
The truth is that I haven't made time in the past month to do anything unplanned or truly relaxing. Even my downtime has been plagued by an intrinsic motivation to be productive. Enjoyable activities like playing guitar have become pressured practice. Coffee dates are dreaded appointments and girls night is more of a commitment than a time to chill.
I've also been really crippled by the pain in my lower back since November. As a lot of you know, I've struggled with pain in my chest and upper back and that came back as well last week. Past experience has led me to believe that most of this pain is a result of emotional, mental and physical stress. So last weekend I had to reevaluate my perpetual productivity and ask myself for the millionth time why I keep coming back to this pit of stress and anxiety.
Before I could fully process the twisted inner workings of my mind I started to cut the stressors out. Last Monday I went into the ESL class where I tutor and said that I wouldn't be coming back for a while. After that, I went to my old high school and told Mr. Simpson that I wouldn't be taking guitar lessons for the next three weeks. On Wednesday I told our local sports bar manager that I would no longer be available to organize trivia nights. I cancelled my ridiculously expensive physical therapy sessions and skipped out on girls night. I let my friends, family and coworkers know how stressed out I was and I prayed a lot.
Please pray for me if you read this. I believe Christ has the power to take all of this physical and emotional pain away and I hope that it will end soon. If you're reading this, you're probably one of my closest friends so if you see me becoming too involved and obsessed with productivity, please remind me what happens when I get too far down that path. Ok time to read what's happening in YOUR lives.
Monday, March 28, 2011
HFHI Conference
I returned to the Pasco airport at 11:05 on Friday night. I was exhausted from three days of information overload, late nights talking with my boss and coworkers, and the three hour time difference. I had to pull myself our of bed 7 hours later to visit the various groups volunteering with us on Saturday and spend the afternoon at the United Methodist Women luncheon as the guest speaker.
After my spiel at the luncheon, the hostess took the microphone, said thank you and added "The passion in your voice makes it so plain to see that you are in the right job." We can thank the conference for that.
About a week ago I was telling my mom that passion was precisely what I was not finding at Habitat. I was going through the motions and daily having to remind myself that my work was important. After spending the week with 2000 other Habitat employees and hearing testimonies of the change that we are making in so many people's lives, I felt empowered and truly excited to get back to my day job.
What really grabbed me by the hair and got my attention was the everpresent reminders of the faith-based mission on which Habitat for Humanity is based. Every speaker gave glory to God and every day started with prayer to remind us of what had brought us to Habitat in the first place. Habitat is now the largest private homebuilder in the U.S. but when you try to give kudos to the C.E.O., he'll be the first to send that credit straight toward Heaven. I am completely humbled and so grateful to have found purpose in my work. I know that I'll have my lows again someday but for the time-being I'm rejoicing in the high!
After my spiel at the luncheon, the hostess took the microphone, said thank you and added "The passion in your voice makes it so plain to see that you are in the right job." We can thank the conference for that.
About a week ago I was telling my mom that passion was precisely what I was not finding at Habitat. I was going through the motions and daily having to remind myself that my work was important. After spending the week with 2000 other Habitat employees and hearing testimonies of the change that we are making in so many people's lives, I felt empowered and truly excited to get back to my day job.
What really grabbed me by the hair and got my attention was the everpresent reminders of the faith-based mission on which Habitat for Humanity is based. Every speaker gave glory to God and every day started with prayer to remind us of what had brought us to Habitat in the first place. Habitat is now the largest private homebuilder in the U.S. but when you try to give kudos to the C.E.O., he'll be the first to send that credit straight toward Heaven. I am completely humbled and so grateful to have found purpose in my work. I know that I'll have my lows again someday but for the time-being I'm rejoicing in the high!
Monday, March 21, 2011
I forgot to mention...
...that I'm going to Atlanta for the Habitat for Humanity International Conference! My plane leaves the Pasco airport at 6AM on Tuesday and I get back into town at 11PM on Friday. Then Saturday I will be busy working and visiting Sharefest groups (do you know what Sharefest is?)
I'm excited to go to Georgia since I've never been down South. I'll take lots of pictures to share with you all and I'll give a recap next Sunday to detail the adventure. Ugh...I'm tired just thinking about it all. I hope I can stay healthy!
I'm excited to go to Georgia since I've never been down South. I'll take lots of pictures to share with you all and I'll give a recap next Sunday to detail the adventure. Ugh...I'm tired just thinking about it all. I hope I can stay healthy!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Lent--Everyone's favorite season
Well maybe not everybody gets all hot and bothered about sacrifice and self improvement but I absolutely love the challenge. As Ash Wednesday approached last week I was brainstorming things that I could give up, devising ways to get closer to God, and asking my family what they were doing to celebrate the season. Then I realized that I was probably approaching Lent with the wrong attitude. When your plans to get spiritually in tune via Reese's abstinence coincide with daydreams of looking awesome in a bikini, you have to question your motives.
So I decided to scrap my anti-chocolate sentiment in exchange for morning quiet time. I've been sick since Thursday so that time has grown exponentially over the past week. A killer sore throat kept me away from work for two and a half days so I've been reading my Isabel Allende book, watching Modern Family, and hanging out with the family.
I went to Crossview (the church started by a Whitworth grad) again on Saturday. I still don't feel a real desire to set roots there. Does that mean that I need to put more effort in and get involved or do I keep looking for something that clicks right away? All I know is that I need to find a group of people that share the same values as me. Otherwise I'll end up spending too much time with the promiscous engineeers at the sports bar without any other social anchor...a recipe for bad news.
So I decided to scrap my anti-chocolate sentiment in exchange for morning quiet time. I've been sick since Thursday so that time has grown exponentially over the past week. A killer sore throat kept me away from work for two and a half days so I've been reading my Isabel Allende book, watching Modern Family, and hanging out with the family.
I went to Crossview (the church started by a Whitworth grad) again on Saturday. I still don't feel a real desire to set roots there. Does that mean that I need to put more effort in and get involved or do I keep looking for something that clicks right away? All I know is that I need to find a group of people that share the same values as me. Otherwise I'll end up spending too much time with the promiscous engineeers at the sports bar without any other social anchor...a recipe for bad news.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Here's to Friends!
Ever since I got done with Almost Maine my social life has exploded. I'm getting together with three girls from high school (Dana, Shiv and Holly) on a weekly basis, making trips to see friends in Spokane, Portland and Seattle (that trip is coming in April), hanging out with coworkers after work (we're making pesto tonight), and meeting new friends in the T.C. Last week I went to trivia night at a bar in Richland and met four guys that were about my age--all of them smart, funny, nice, pretty cute. Where have they been hiding for the past six months?! I'm very happy these days and soaking up the good vibes that the people in my social circle emanate.
Right now I'm in Portland and it's 8:30 AM on a Monday. I came to see my longtime friend Sean and he doesn't do mornings. So I'm taking the opportunity to catch up a bit on the ol' blog, practice guitar, organize my iTunes, maybe walk to Starbucks...I'll head back to the Tri after Sean goes to work and perhaps hike Multnomah Falls on the way. I feel a little sluggish after Saturday night's boozy karaoke escapade, a visit to Voodoo Doughnuts (GET THE MAPLE BACON DOUGHNUT!), and a weekend of eating meals in a house void of vegetables. It was nice to catch up with Sean though and I wish I could stay here a bit longer.
I'm looking forward to Lent starting on Wednesday. I don't know what I'm going to do. There are so many aspects of my life in which I could impose a little discipline, so many better uses of my time and money. I need to pick one of them this month and work through sacrifice a bit. Do any of you have plans for Lent?
Right now I'm in Portland and it's 8:30 AM on a Monday. I came to see my longtime friend Sean and he doesn't do mornings. So I'm taking the opportunity to catch up a bit on the ol' blog, practice guitar, organize my iTunes, maybe walk to Starbucks...I'll head back to the Tri after Sean goes to work and perhaps hike Multnomah Falls on the way. I feel a little sluggish after Saturday night's boozy karaoke escapade, a visit to Voodoo Doughnuts (GET THE MAPLE BACON DOUGHNUT!), and a weekend of eating meals in a house void of vegetables. It was nice to catch up with Sean though and I wish I could stay here a bit longer.
I'm looking forward to Lent starting on Wednesday. I don't know what I'm going to do. There are so many aspects of my life in which I could impose a little discipline, so many better uses of my time and money. I need to pick one of them this month and work through sacrifice a bit. Do any of you have plans for Lent?
Monday, February 14, 2011
Thanks A Lot (that's a Raffi Song)
Oh the blogs are getting scarcer and scarcer.
Here is my list of things to be thankful for:
1. Whitworth: I'm constantly reminded of the excellent education I received during my four years in college. I got to spend my freshman year in the Best Place on Earth, my sophomore year with the greatest leadership team of all time, my junior year preparing for and experiencing Chile, and my final year with the 7 most wonderful young women I know.
2. Spring: I've never been a fan of this season until last weekend. The sun came out and the highs were in the 60s. I went running by the river, hiked up Badger Mountain, and played "Here Comes the Sun" on my back porch.
3. Friends: The past three weeks have brought more social interaction into my world than I can believe. A visit from 5 of the Corner House girls in Kennewick, spending Thursday nights watching 30 Rock with my girlfriends from high school (Shivyon, Holly, and Dana), and a trip to Spokane to look forward to this coming weekend.
4. God: I thought about rearranging this and putting God first but that's just not how I did it originally. Sorry. I've had a lot of God-you-are-so-awesome-can-you-just-rapture-us-already? moments lately. I'm so thankful to be spiritually fulfilled right now and aware of His presence and I'm so excited for the day when I feel like this forever!
5. Time: Oh how sweet these moments are! Hours and hours to spend without an impending rehearsal. Friday and Saturday nights to watch movies with my family. This season in my life is so carefree. I'm young and unanchored and free to create and work and play. Hallelujah!
Here is my list of things to be thankful for:
1. Whitworth: I'm constantly reminded of the excellent education I received during my four years in college. I got to spend my freshman year in the Best Place on Earth, my sophomore year with the greatest leadership team of all time, my junior year preparing for and experiencing Chile, and my final year with the 7 most wonderful young women I know.
2. Spring: I've never been a fan of this season until last weekend. The sun came out and the highs were in the 60s. I went running by the river, hiked up Badger Mountain, and played "Here Comes the Sun" on my back porch.
3. Friends: The past three weeks have brought more social interaction into my world than I can believe. A visit from 5 of the Corner House girls in Kennewick, spending Thursday nights watching 30 Rock with my girlfriends from high school (Shivyon, Holly, and Dana), and a trip to Spokane to look forward to this coming weekend.
4. God: I thought about rearranging this and putting God first but that's just not how I did it originally. Sorry. I've had a lot of God-you-are-so-awesome-can-you-just-rapture-us-already? moments lately. I'm so thankful to be spiritually fulfilled right now and aware of His presence and I'm so excited for the day when I feel like this forever!
5. Time: Oh how sweet these moments are! Hours and hours to spend without an impending rehearsal. Friday and Saturday nights to watch movies with my family. This season in my life is so carefree. I'm young and unanchored and free to create and work and play. Hallelujah!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
On Stage
At 6 o'clock on Friday I headed up the narrow staircase of the Richland Players Theater toward the old green room. It was the opening night of Almost Maine and all of the cast was milling about mumbling lines under their breath and getting out their makeup cases. We had two hours before the show started and everybody was on edge. After two months of memorizing lines, stage decorating, and rehearsals in the ancient theater, we were as ready as we'd ever be.
We put on makeup, did hair, and made sure our costumes were laid out for changes between scenes as we listened to the audio feed from the theater. As the clock approached 8, the crowd got louder and louder and the whole crew gathered in the green room for one last "Hurrah!" before the show.
I crept down the old rickety stairs that led down to the stage before my first scene. Two other actors and I sat in darkness backstage listening to our friends deliver lines that we all knew by heart. As I sat behind the curtain, listening to the crowd laugh and sigh, I thanked God for the excitement I felt. I prayed that I wouldn't blank out on stage but conceded that if I did, life would go on and the world wouldn't end.
As it turned out, we had a hell of a show. There weren't any huge mishaps to speak of, and nobody drowned in that foreboding pool of stagefright. My two scenes were in the first Act, and so I got to relax until the final bow. After the show, the cast, crew and directors went out for drinks and appetizers at Applebees. We smeared our lipstick on glasses of beer and shared deep fried everything in celebration of a fabulous opening night.
We put on makeup, did hair, and made sure our costumes were laid out for changes between scenes as we listened to the audio feed from the theater. As the clock approached 8, the crowd got louder and louder and the whole crew gathered in the green room for one last "Hurrah!" before the show.
I crept down the old rickety stairs that led down to the stage before my first scene. Two other actors and I sat in darkness backstage listening to our friends deliver lines that we all knew by heart. As I sat behind the curtain, listening to the crowd laugh and sigh, I thanked God for the excitement I felt. I prayed that I wouldn't blank out on stage but conceded that if I did, life would go on and the world wouldn't end.
As it turned out, we had a hell of a show. There weren't any huge mishaps to speak of, and nobody drowned in that foreboding pool of stagefright. My two scenes were in the first Act, and so I got to relax until the final bow. After the show, the cast, crew and directors went out for drinks and appetizers at Applebees. We smeared our lipstick on glasses of beer and shared deep fried everything in celebration of a fabulous opening night.
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| Putting on make up. |
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| Sexy sexy...before make up and costume. |
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| All done up as Villian the waitress. |
Monday, January 10, 2011
Someone's got a case of the Mondays
Okay, so I started this post Monday morning and finished after my guitar lesson in the afternoon. Please observe how fickle my outlook on life can be!
Monday morning:
Ugh...what a day. I don't know what my deal is but every fiber or my being is anti-today. It's my day off and I should be relaxing and enjoying the free time but I get anxious almost every Monday. I worry about my guitar lesson and not being prepared, I dread going to rehearsal at 5:30, and even the little things that should be enjoyable--like going to lunch with my cousins--seem like chores. The good news is that even though my Monday mornings usually start off funkified, after the guitar lesson the day looks a little brighter.
I'm thinking of tutoring in the ESL classroom starting next week. Somebody keep me accountable for that okay? Just ask how it went, cause I'm sure if I just get out of the house in the morning things will look up.
Monday afternoon (Reflection on Saturday):
On Saturday, Shivyon and I decided to be spontaneous and drive to Walla Walla after work for some wine tasting. The drive was beautiful and we arrived in the cute little downtown district around 4:30. Sadly, most of the tasting rooms closed right about that time and reopened for music at 8. After about half an hour of walking around we finally found a little tasting room that was open. The "Sleight of Hand" wine was abysmal but the girl with dreads (dreds?) serving us was nice and said we didn't need to pay the usual $5 tasting fee. We walked to the Millhouse Brewery for a well balanced meal of spiced wine, buttered rum, and pot stickers. We finished dinner and were ready for some good music but when we looked at the clock it wasn't even 6.
After that we headed to a beautiful cafe/restaurant/wine bar called Olive and got huge glasses of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. We setttled down in comfy leather chairs and chatted for over an hour as we waited for the band to start at Sapolil. Pleasantly tipsy, we paid the $3 cover charge and sang along with the 3 man band as middle-aged couples awkwardly danced and made me happy that older people could still hold on to that can't-take-my-eyes-off-of-you romance.
I sobered up and we drove home to the T.C. I was exhausted from the week and wine but glad to have done something out of hum-drum Kennewick routine. Next trip planned: Spokane!
Monday morning:
Ugh...what a day. I don't know what my deal is but every fiber or my being is anti-today. It's my day off and I should be relaxing and enjoying the free time but I get anxious almost every Monday. I worry about my guitar lesson and not being prepared, I dread going to rehearsal at 5:30, and even the little things that should be enjoyable--like going to lunch with my cousins--seem like chores. The good news is that even though my Monday mornings usually start off funkified, after the guitar lesson the day looks a little brighter.
I'm thinking of tutoring in the ESL classroom starting next week. Somebody keep me accountable for that okay? Just ask how it went, cause I'm sure if I just get out of the house in the morning things will look up.
Monday afternoon (Reflection on Saturday):
On Saturday, Shivyon and I decided to be spontaneous and drive to Walla Walla after work for some wine tasting. The drive was beautiful and we arrived in the cute little downtown district around 4:30. Sadly, most of the tasting rooms closed right about that time and reopened for music at 8. After about half an hour of walking around we finally found a little tasting room that was open. The "Sleight of Hand" wine was abysmal but the girl with dreads (dreds?) serving us was nice and said we didn't need to pay the usual $5 tasting fee. We walked to the Millhouse Brewery for a well balanced meal of spiced wine, buttered rum, and pot stickers. We finished dinner and were ready for some good music but when we looked at the clock it wasn't even 6.
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| Me and my spiced wine at the Millhouse Brewery. |
After that we headed to a beautiful cafe/restaurant/wine bar called Olive and got huge glasses of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. We setttled down in comfy leather chairs and chatted for over an hour as we waited for the band to start at Sapolil. Pleasantly tipsy, we paid the $3 cover charge and sang along with the 3 man band as middle-aged couples awkwardly danced and made me happy that older people could still hold on to that can't-take-my-eyes-off-of-you romance.
I sobered up and we drove home to the T.C. I was exhausted from the week and wine but glad to have done something out of hum-drum Kennewick routine. Next trip planned: Spokane!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Hello 2011
Hooray for a new year! I always get excited about new beginnings but I shyed (shied?) away from making huge New Year's resolutions. As I told most of the Corner House during Sunday's conference call, I'm trying to do little things more regularly--wearing my retainers, putting my shoes away, making my bed in the morning etc. I should put up reminders to keep that up because it's really not hard and doesn't take a ton of time. It's just getting in the habit I guess.
I have good news about my heart! I think that I might be over Oscar (knock on wood). It took long enough, geez. Some of you know that over the past few weeks I've been desperately lonely--missing my Whitworth community and wanting a guy as well. In my miserableness, almost any guy that crossed my path became a possibility. Sure, boy craziness is not the most positive place to be but I realized that I'm not reverting to Oscar. I'm looking for someone new and that makes me so happy even if I have to be a little lonely until I find him.
My sister and I went to Crossview (the church whose pastor is a Whitworth grad) on Saturday and Pastor Josh came up to us afterward and introduced us to a whole slew of people. He invited me to his small group on Wednesday so I might check it out. It would be so nice to have a quality group of people to spend time with. However, the play is going to take over my life here pretty soon. Next week we'll have rehearsal every night in costume! I'll be glad when it's over. I have to keep reminding myself that I CHOSE to be part of this. I like it when I'm reahearsing, it's just so far away and inconvenient. Ok well enough about me. On to reading your blogs. Love.
I have good news about my heart! I think that I might be over Oscar (knock on wood). It took long enough, geez. Some of you know that over the past few weeks I've been desperately lonely--missing my Whitworth community and wanting a guy as well. In my miserableness, almost any guy that crossed my path became a possibility. Sure, boy craziness is not the most positive place to be but I realized that I'm not reverting to Oscar. I'm looking for someone new and that makes me so happy even if I have to be a little lonely until I find him.
My sister and I went to Crossview (the church whose pastor is a Whitworth grad) on Saturday and Pastor Josh came up to us afterward and introduced us to a whole slew of people. He invited me to his small group on Wednesday so I might check it out. It would be so nice to have a quality group of people to spend time with. However, the play is going to take over my life here pretty soon. Next week we'll have rehearsal every night in costume! I'll be glad when it's over. I have to keep reminding myself that I CHOSE to be part of this. I like it when I'm reahearsing, it's just so far away and inconvenient. Ok well enough about me. On to reading your blogs. Love.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
I hope you haven't completely given up on me and blogging. We went through a rough patch, it's true, but we're committed and we're going to make it work!
The truth of the matter is that I haven't felt like my life is very blog-worthy lately. This is a recurring theme and I just need to get over it and write about the day-to-dayness no matter how mundane it seems.
I do have good news: I'm running again! I hope and pray that I'll be able to keep it up without my weird ankle injury, but only time will tell. I got a membership at one of those 24-hour gyms and I can always bike and do Zumba if my body decides not to cooperate. But once again, visions of Bloomsday and half-marathons dance in my head and my body feels fabulously fatigued. I'm so happy for this moment of physical freedom, even if it's brief.
My sister and I have been hanging out quite a bit since she's been home on break. Yesterday our friend Kelsie Butts came over and we made cards, prepped a pizza dough, did a Zumba class, came back home to top our pizza, listened to "That's Amore," drank wine and ate. Alison will be leaving for her Central America Study Tour adventure in about a week and I'm going to miss her so much. However, I'm excited to hear about her travels and see the changes that life in the third world makes in her.
Ok. Time to grab a cup of coffee (I'm two cups a day addicted again) and read through everyone's blogs!
The truth of the matter is that I haven't felt like my life is very blog-worthy lately. This is a recurring theme and I just need to get over it and write about the day-to-dayness no matter how mundane it seems.
I do have good news: I'm running again! I hope and pray that I'll be able to keep it up without my weird ankle injury, but only time will tell. I got a membership at one of those 24-hour gyms and I can always bike and do Zumba if my body decides not to cooperate. But once again, visions of Bloomsday and half-marathons dance in my head and my body feels fabulously fatigued. I'm so happy for this moment of physical freedom, even if it's brief.
My sister and I have been hanging out quite a bit since she's been home on break. Yesterday our friend Kelsie Butts came over and we made cards, prepped a pizza dough, did a Zumba class, came back home to top our pizza, listened to "That's Amore," drank wine and ate. Alison will be leaving for her Central America Study Tour adventure in about a week and I'm going to miss her so much. However, I'm excited to hear about her travels and see the changes that life in the third world makes in her.
Ok. Time to grab a cup of coffee (I'm two cups a day addicted again) and read through everyone's blogs!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Hmm…it seems that this blog has slipped into the realm of biweekly things. I’ll try to correct that in the coming weeks. Thanksgiving was practically perfect in every way, just like Mary Poppins. My grandpa (Mom’s dad) had another little stroke though. Please say a little prayer for him and thank God for this time in our lives—we’re young, healthy, happy, and have so much ahead of us! As for the present…here is a pictorial representation of November 2010:
This is my friend Heidi. We met when she was volunteering at Habitat and she invited me over for dinner the other night. We're going to lunch this week and I'm going to try Pho' for the first time.
Ali and Cameron paving the way for our sled and snowboards in the Horse Heaven Hills. We were very adventurous and discovered this little run the day before Thanksgiving.
Zach and Corrie were in the Tri over break and we celebrated Shivyon's birthday with cake, drinks, dancing, more drinks, and drinking games. I suppose it's good to let loose every once in a while!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Almost, Maine
Last week's post left me less than enthused about my everyday adventures in Kennewick. I'm a single twenty something with lots of time on my hands and zero excuses to not be exploring every inch of the youth I have left. So, when I pulled out the "Around Town" section of the local paper on Friday and saw that there were auditions for a play at a local theater, I dared myself to try out.
Honestly, I've always loved acting. If I could be anything--regardless of talent, fortune, and bone structure--I'd be Scarlett Johansson. So I was really excited to try out for Almost, Maine at the Richland Players Theater. I showed up for audtions on Monday night without having read the script or having any idea about what I might have to pull off on stage--was I going to have to disrobe to my skivvies? speak with a Boston accent? play a mime? I had no clue, but they shoved a little blue tablet in my hand, put me on stage with a guy I'd never met, and told me to start reading on page 35.
Auditions lasted for two hours and I had such a blast. The play is composed of short vignettes starring a couple working through the tougher issues that arise when love goes sour. Each scene evoked memories of past boyfriends and the guy on stage with me morphed into Mitch, Elijah, or Oscar accordingly. At the end of the audition I was so jazzed it was hard to get to sleep. I couldn't care less if I got a part because the try out itself was so much fun.
Be that as it may, I did get a "We're happy to offer you a part..." call the next day. My excitement waned ever so slightly as the voice on the phone explained Monday through Thursday night rehearsals starting this and mandatory "tech week." I checked my calendar, accepted the offer, and braced myself for the busy months that are headed my way.
Play dates: January 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29
Honestly, I've always loved acting. If I could be anything--regardless of talent, fortune, and bone structure--I'd be Scarlett Johansson. So I was really excited to try out for Almost, Maine at the Richland Players Theater. I showed up for audtions on Monday night without having read the script or having any idea about what I might have to pull off on stage--was I going to have to disrobe to my skivvies? speak with a Boston accent? play a mime? I had no clue, but they shoved a little blue tablet in my hand, put me on stage with a guy I'd never met, and told me to start reading on page 35.
Auditions lasted for two hours and I had such a blast. The play is composed of short vignettes starring a couple working through the tougher issues that arise when love goes sour. Each scene evoked memories of past boyfriends and the guy on stage with me morphed into Mitch, Elijah, or Oscar accordingly. At the end of the audition I was so jazzed it was hard to get to sleep. I couldn't care less if I got a part because the try out itself was so much fun.
Be that as it may, I did get a "We're happy to offer you a part..." call the next day. My excitement waned ever so slightly as the voice on the phone explained Monday through Thursday night rehearsals starting this and mandatory "tech week." I checked my calendar, accepted the offer, and braced myself for the busy months that are headed my way.
Play dates: January 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Variation on a Theme
Last night as I conference-Skyped with Emily and Joanna, I felt a bit sheepish as it came time to give the Lindsay Update. There's a reason I haven't blogged in two weeks and it pretty much boils down to the fact that there's not a whole lot to talk about. I'm in a routine here at home and while I'm enjoying myself and thanking God for the simplicity, it's not the stuff of interesting conversation topics.
I get up, work out, head to work, take a half hour lunch break and walk to Goodwill, go back to work, head home, make dinner, drink wine with my mom, and play my guitar. On Sundays I go to church with the family, check out Costco with my mom, and sometimes Grandma and Grandpa come over for dinner. Mondays bring guitar lessons that still make me nervous, and hitting the gym at my old high school with Mrs. Smith--my Spanish teacher/track coach/mentor/hero.
The funny thing is, since I'm stuck in the mundane, I forget that everyone else's lives are moving forward and filled with exciting news. Joanna is headed to Seattle for another commercial??? Emily is spending the next week with Zach in California??? News to me!
Apparently I need to do a better job of calling all my friends up for regular check ins. How crazy to think that I'm not getting word about boyfriend visits, blossoming romances, artistic direction, drunken snafoos and the like!
I get up, work out, head to work, take a half hour lunch break and walk to Goodwill, go back to work, head home, make dinner, drink wine with my mom, and play my guitar. On Sundays I go to church with the family, check out Costco with my mom, and sometimes Grandma and Grandpa come over for dinner. Mondays bring guitar lessons that still make me nervous, and hitting the gym at my old high school with Mrs. Smith--my Spanish teacher/track coach/mentor/hero.
The funny thing is, since I'm stuck in the mundane, I forget that everyone else's lives are moving forward and filled with exciting news. Joanna is headed to Seattle for another commercial??? Emily is spending the next week with Zach in California??? News to me!
Apparently I need to do a better job of calling all my friends up for regular check ins. How crazy to think that I'm not getting word about boyfriend visits, blossoming romances, artistic direction, drunken snafoos and the like!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Office
Ladies and ladies, I present to you Habitat for Humanity Tri-Cities...
This is my office. I'd really like to take those pictures down but I don't want to offend anyone. They were there when I set up camp a month an a half ago.
Ahhhhh...typical! I had to come up with my "Top 5" goals as Volunteer Coordinator but I made sure that they didn't supercede Whitworth's alternative "Big 3." Gosh I miss that place.
I drink lots of jasmine tea and hot water out of that Halloween mug. That picture was my first order of business in an attempt to decorate my space a bit.
The view from my desk.
I had a really good weekend--went to roller derby and carved pumpkins with Corrie and her boyfriend Nick. Shivyon and her boyfriend Zach came over after and we watched Shutter Island and ate Ben and Jerry's (you MUST try Americone Dream). It was nice to hang out with a group of friends again. They're good at making me not feel like the 5th wheel.
Yesterday was my day off. I had to do a deep clean of our pantry after a rogue spice from an Indian supermarket threatened to suffocate anyone who opened the cupboard door. Note to everyone--if a recipe calls for asafoetida, just order Indian take out instead. Whatever you do, DO NOT add this stuff to your spice rack. I had pumpkin chip bread baking which covered up the stench quite well and then it was off to my 5th guitar lesson.
Well, I'm going to make lunch and head to work. Love to all!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Update Shmupdate
Ever since I so melodramatically left the blogging stage two weeks ago, I have had a wary eye set on Skype waiting for Oscar to pop up out of nowhere and scare the Bajeezus out of me. Well, I'm happy to say that hasn't happened and he is once again fading to a emotionally confused memory.
In other news...work has been going a lot better. I think that I'll report my job satisfaction level at a 7 today at my weekly check in (10 being awesome). It's weird how the desire to please my boss and let her know I'm happy has actually manifested itself in my daily activity and made work more enjoyable. I made it a goal to enjoy my job more so that I could put her mind at ease, and I started doing things a bit differently. What I really feel like I'm missing is deeper relationships with the other staff and volunteers. I made that a priority these past two weeks and I started to like going to work.
I had my fifth guitar lesson yesterday. Did I ever mention to anyone that I was taking guitar? Anywho, my former band teacher is now teaching me Beatles riffs and Dust in the Wind. Its tough but I'm finding time to practice almost every day and the calluses on my fingers are proof. Next time the Corner House unites around a fire I'll be able to play "Scarborough Fair" with ease :) Missing you all terribly.
In other news...work has been going a lot better. I think that I'll report my job satisfaction level at a 7 today at my weekly check in (10 being awesome). It's weird how the desire to please my boss and let her know I'm happy has actually manifested itself in my daily activity and made work more enjoyable. I made it a goal to enjoy my job more so that I could put her mind at ease, and I started doing things a bit differently. What I really feel like I'm missing is deeper relationships with the other staff and volunteers. I made that a priority these past two weeks and I started to like going to work.
I had my fifth guitar lesson yesterday. Did I ever mention to anyone that I was taking guitar? Anywho, my former band teacher is now teaching me Beatles riffs and Dust in the Wind. Its tough but I'm finding time to practice almost every day and the calluses on my fingers are proof. Next time the Corner House unites around a fire I'll be able to play "Scarborough Fair" with ease :) Missing you all terribly.
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