Summer Slide Show
I guess you could call me a late-bloomer on many levels. Staying up-to-date on my blog is one of them. I have, on more than one occasion, fibbed about the post date (thank you "post options"). And now you all know my secret.
These pics are from my 10-year high school reunion, my family's summer vacation to the beach, my birthday, the Fourth of July & some other randoms.
These pics are from my 10-year high school reunion, my family's summer vacation to the beach, my birthday, the Fourth of July & some other randoms.
You like this? Preparing for my stints in Utah, I try to pack as light as possible, sometimes too light, so I end up raiding the closets in my parents' house.
I thought this outfit came together quite nicely :).
Military Cap
Orange Scarf
Green Hound's Tooth Coat
Tweed Skirt
Olive Patterned Tights
Studded Seychelles Wedges
Suede Messenger Bag
I thought this outfit came together quite nicely :).
Military Cap
Orange Scarf
Green Hound's Tooth Coat
Tweed Skirt
Olive Patterned Tights
Studded Seychelles Wedges
Suede Messenger Bag
Yep. I'm "that girl"...
you know, the one who tags herself just so she can be "it" and be the center of attention during night games with the neighbors.
So no. I wasn't tagged, but I thought this one was so funny and had to try it out for myself:
Wasn't that fun. Now you can tag yourself too!
So no. I wasn't tagged, but I thought this one was so funny and had to try it out for myself:
1. Your Rock Star Name: (first pet & current car) Hopscotch Mini
2. Your Gangsta Name: (favorite ice cream and favorite cookie) Cookies n' Cream Joe Joe
3. Your "Fly Girl" Name: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) C-kar
4. Your Detective Name: (favorite color, favorite animal) Green Labrador
5. Your Soap Opera Name: (middle name, city where you were born) Nothing Provo
6. Your Star Wars Name: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) - Karch (hm. look what happened here!)
7. Your Superhero Name: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put “The” in front) The Blue Kangen
8. Your Nascar Name: (the first names of your grandfathers)- Stanley Alyn
9. Your Stripper Name: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy) Delicious Reeses
Wasn't that fun. Now you can tag yourself too!
it's raining today...
but the other day it wasn't and i took a shortcut through the grass and the aroma of fresh-cut lawn wafted through my senses. i thought to myself, "i am one lucky girl to be able to walk through lush lawn in the winter."
so sorry for those who live in cold places.
so sorry for those who live in cold places.
and then i found this photo, cause i was looking for an illustration to represent my experience. i can't use this seriously. my toes are about half the length of these ones! are you kidding? they look like little people instead of phalanges!
happy birthday alejandro!
yes. the good idea is now sold and gracing the room of a 6-year-old boy. it only took me 1.5 hours and one short but deep screw driver wound to take it apart (enough).
My room is already more inviting and my bed more comfy, even if it's just a matress on a floor.
& happy half-birthday to me!
My room is already more inviting and my bed more comfy, even if it's just a matress on a floor.
& happy half-birthday to me!
Once upon a time there was a good idea...
I'm selling my loft bed. Such a good idea with so much 'neath me storage.
It's just not inviting and so awkward to climb into. Maybe that's why it's not inviting. I gotta switch.
So, if you know anyone in Orange County who needs a loft/canopy bed, I'm throwing the cute red curtains in for free. Not to mention free assembly. This thing was a beast. By far Ikea's pieciest piece of furniture.
It's just not inviting and so awkward to climb into. Maybe that's why it's not inviting. I gotta switch.
So, if you know anyone in Orange County who needs a loft/canopy bed, I'm throwing the cute red curtains in for free. Not to mention free assembly. This thing was a beast. By far Ikea's pieciest piece of furniture.
Not complaining, but I'm really ready to have a normal life again!
Last night, th bf and I caught the 9:30pm showing of "Bee Movie" (great flick, btw), picked up dinner to-go from Ruby's on the way to the theater and ate in the parking lot for our weekly "date night." Since he'll be in San Jose this weekend for the USC-Cal game, we had to go out during the week which means after 9 pm for me.
He really has been so patient while I'm in school and never complains about how few hours I'm around. Just sweetly calls every day on his way home (around 5pm) to see when I'll be home. A lot of people have told me to enjoy dating, because you see each other more during that phase than when you're married. I really, really hope that isn't the case for me.
And I hope I can keep this up for another six months! (no, this isn't an announcement.)
Muuahahahh...
Warning....
This may be the scariest thing you see this Halloween!
This may be the scariest thing you see this Halloween!
I won the best costume contest at work today. $50 to Target! Hurray for me and my goth self. 
my friend adobe creative suite...
I was going through some of my files and came across this one...an image I created from a picture of Wonder Woman for my roommate in celebration of a new-found freedom. We were going to put it on a cute, short-sleeved hoodie, but I printed the image in reverse on a white back ground. Ya, didn't work. Sad, sad, sad. Now it just sits on my computer.
And now graces my blog.
Disneyland + Rain = No lines + Ugly hair!
Breaking News
Welcome to my world today....
More than 250,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and the air quality is less than ideal, thanks to nearly a dozen fires ranging from Santa Barbara to San Diego.
My whole house...well, the whole state...smells like a campfire and everything is covered in ash. At times like these I count myself extra blessed that my house is surrounded by water.
More than 250,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and the air quality is less than ideal, thanks to nearly a dozen fires ranging from Santa Barbara to San Diego.My whole house...well, the whole state...smells like a campfire and everything is covered in ash. At times like these I count myself extra blessed that my house is surrounded by water.
Phase Two
The first step in making a change is recognition that something needs to be different.
So what's step two? Discovering what that change object is. What about when the change object is yourself? Ha. That's just not going to happen. But...if my [tens of] thousands of dollars of school debt has taught me anything, it has taught me that perceptions can change and that knowledge is critical. And that is priceless!
The second phase of my personal journey came to me in one of those light-bulb-aha! moments the other day as I was talking to one of my clients, a 44-yr-old-single-mother-of 3-nearly-empty-nester. I was doing an "intake" and so trying to gather as much information as possible in 45 minutes. I came to the "social support" section and asked her if she has a "best-friend." She responded affirmatively, so I asked her to "tell me about her or him," not wanting to assume, and kind of wanting to find out if she has a boyfriend. Her response flipped the switch for me. "Oh, a woman! Men are great and all, but they don't make very good best friends. We need girl time and to be silly! We just can't be silly around men! They will think we're crazy!"
Aha!
I have been spending ALL (okay, okay... MOST, we do other things, too) of my free time watching football, war movies, talking politics and business. Hanging out with a boy (as cute as he is) all the time = not enough silliness!
So, phase two begins. Rediscovering my feminine-self.
It started during last week's Relief Society lesson on "Women in the Church." I thought to myself that I LOVE talking and hearing about how great women are! And I was secretly hoping that John was LOVING the lesson too! So, I asked him about it. Well, turns out they had a different lesson altogether (I guess the RS was ahead a week) and then I started thinking. Is my boyfriend really going to understand or feel the same way that I do about my peers? No. Is is totally unrealistic for me to expect him to want to put our pj's on and make some caramel corn and give ourselves pedicures and talk about how great women are? Yes! Does it mean that he has issues with women? Most definitely not!
I picked up this book at Borders last week and showed it to the bf, saying that I had something for him to read. He laughed, quite nervously. I've been pounding him with way too much estrogen lately. Then he said he'll read it after I do. Little does he know that I am going to hold him to it.
I absolutely recommend this read to anyone who is female, is raising a female, or lives with a female. I dare say that this is the most enlightening work I have read in a very long time (scripture excluded).
Here are a couple excerpts:
"Girls' social agenda, expressed in play and determined by brain development, is to form close, one-on-one relationships. Boys' play, by contrast, is not usually about relationships--it's about the game or toy itself, as well as social rank, power, defense of territory, and physical strength."
Some things just don't change!
"The numbers vary, but on average girls speak two or three times more words per day than boys....Girls speak faster on average, especially when they are in a social setting. Men haven't always appreciated that verbal edge. In Colonial America, women were put in the town stocks with wooden clips on their tongues or tortured by the 'dunking stool,' held under water and almost drowned--punishments that were never imposed on men--for the crime of 'talking too much.'"
If true, this is pretty sad, but I still laughed as I envisioned men in powdered wigs, so frustrated by over-verbal women, running around, not knowing what to do. It's a good thing that social structure has changed, otherwise I'm pretty sure there would be a lot of women in the stocks with their tongues secured. Poor men! It must be rough to be you and have to listen to us all the time! :)
What does all this mean for me? More girls' nights. Pictures to follow.
So what's step two? Discovering what that change object is. What about when the change object is yourself? Ha. That's just not going to happen. But...if my [tens of] thousands of dollars of school debt has taught me anything, it has taught me that perceptions can change and that knowledge is critical. And that is priceless!
The second phase of my personal journey came to me in one of those light-bulb-aha! moments the other day as I was talking to one of my clients, a 44-yr-old-single-mother-of 3-nearly-empty-nester. I was doing an "intake" and so trying to gather as much information as possible in 45 minutes. I came to the "social support" section and asked her if she has a "best-friend." She responded affirmatively, so I asked her to "tell me about her or him," not wanting to assume, and kind of wanting to find out if she has a boyfriend. Her response flipped the switch for me. "Oh, a woman! Men are great and all, but they don't make very good best friends. We need girl time and to be silly! We just can't be silly around men! They will think we're crazy!"
Aha!
I have been spending ALL (okay, okay... MOST, we do other things, too) of my free time watching football, war movies, talking politics and business. Hanging out with a boy (as cute as he is) all the time = not enough silliness!
So, phase two begins. Rediscovering my feminine-self.
It started during last week's Relief Society lesson on "Women in the Church." I thought to myself that I LOVE talking and hearing about how great women are! And I was secretly hoping that John was LOVING the lesson too! So, I asked him about it. Well, turns out they had a different lesson altogether (I guess the RS was ahead a week) and then I started thinking. Is my boyfriend really going to understand or feel the same way that I do about my peers? No. Is is totally unrealistic for me to expect him to want to put our pj's on and make some caramel corn and give ourselves pedicures and talk about how great women are? Yes! Does it mean that he has issues with women? Most definitely not!
I picked up this book at Borders last week and showed it to the bf, saying that I had something for him to read. He laughed, quite nervously. I've been pounding him with way too much estrogen lately. Then he said he'll read it after I do. Little does he know that I am going to hold him to it.
I absolutely recommend this read to anyone who is female, is raising a female, or lives with a female. I dare say that this is the most enlightening work I have read in a very long time (scripture excluded).
Here are a couple excerpts:
"Girls' social agenda, expressed in play and determined by brain development, is to form close, one-on-one relationships. Boys' play, by contrast, is not usually about relationships--it's about the game or toy itself, as well as social rank, power, defense of territory, and physical strength."
Some things just don't change!
"The numbers vary, but on average girls speak two or three times more words per day than boys....Girls speak faster on average, especially when they are in a social setting. Men haven't always appreciated that verbal edge. In Colonial America, women were put in the town stocks with wooden clips on their tongues or tortured by the 'dunking stool,' held under water and almost drowned--punishments that were never imposed on men--for the crime of 'talking too much.'"
If true, this is pretty sad, but I still laughed as I envisioned men in powdered wigs, so frustrated by over-verbal women, running around, not knowing what to do. It's a good thing that social structure has changed, otherwise I'm pretty sure there would be a lot of women in the stocks with their tongues secured. Poor men! It must be rough to be you and have to listen to us all the time! :)
What does all this mean for me? More girls' nights. Pictures to follow.
Becoming a Solid Self
You'd think that someone who is not yet married and just shy of 30-yrs-old would have this figured out by now. I should be so secure in who I am and what I need, right? Nope.
This is my current journey. How to be a Solid Self now, because "a strong self is more attractive than a no-self."
I need to learn how to follow through with my expectations of others, rather than stewing inside when my *unspoken and undefined* expectations are not met and then getting mean about it, freaking out or going into hiding.
How have YOU overcome insecurities or lack of confidence in order to ask for what you want and need?
The Game of Life
Sometimes life throws you a curve ball. The worst kind are the ones that actually hit you. The good thing about that, though is you're guaranteed to walk to first. What happens at that point is up to you and the rest of the line up. Yeah, you have to be on your toes and ready to run. You can't lose focus, since you never know what the next pitch will be or whether the guy after you will do his part to allow you to advance. Sometimes you have to be strategic and steal a base.
Whatever it takes to win the game.
Whatever it takes to win the game.
Congratulations, Liz!!
Congrats to my cute sister-in-law who just won the Scrapbooker of the Year! She is so talented! See her work here!
Go Liz!!
Go Liz!!
I finally applied for and received a California Driver's License and I'm glad I didn't wait another day. The Newport Beach Police van followed me onto the island the other day. One block. Two blocks. Lights flashing. Dang. One of my taillights has been out for a pretty long time and let's be honest, it was only a matter of time before I got caught. So, I pulled over and rolled my window down, handed him my *brand new CA DL* and said with a really naive look on my face, "Is it because of my taillight? I know I need to get it fixed." And he said, "Well, that and your speed." (Oh, didn't I mention that part? Whoops.) But then, oh blessed day, he looked at my license and said, "You live here?" *smile* "Ya, but the car (which has Utah plates) isn't mine..." followed by a lengthy explanation of why it's not registered in California)... and then my stroke of genius: "Where's a good place to get a taillight?" Then he proceeded to tell me about how when 'the taillight burned out in his Z3', he looked everywhere and finally had to take it to the 'BMW dealer'. Yes, he was wearing a wedding ring ... and then he noticed he was blocking traffic and said he had to go. Gave me my new license back and bid me 'good day'.
Sweet talking daughter-of-a-gun!
Sweet talking daughter-of-a-gun!
Hallelujah!
The heat wave is supposed to be subsiding.
I know it could be so much worse.
But, when you're used to75 degrees, 95 is just too dang hot.
The Blessings Experiment
A while back I subscribed to receive occassional emails from this lady, Kate. Her website is mayyoubeblessed.com. Sometimes it just bugs me to get more 'junk mail', but I liked today's thought and am going to share it.
Dear Charity,
Hello, it's Kate again, sending gentle blessings your way tucked within the folds of a simple question....Has anyone told you today that you are loved?
I hope so. I was thinking about how much we all love to be told we are loved as I re-read a chapter in the beautiful gift book written by Linda Ellis and Mac Anderson, entitled "The Dash." It is one of those books that I return to time and time again, not because I've never fully read it before, but because I believe it contains such a wealth of comforting wisdom worthy of being read over and over. If you have been keeping up with the recent updates I've sent out, then you are aware that Tuesday, September 4th is a big day for the Blessings Project. I will be releasing a new movie on that date entitled "Has Anyone Told You?" and, as you may have already guessed, the subject of the movie is Love. The unconditional kind. The kind we all are hungry for. As I was reading the chapter on Love this morning, it occurred to me how important it is to all of us and how very much I want you to receive the new movie this week because it contains a message of Love. I want very much to make certain that you are aware the movie will be coming on Tuesday and are watching for it. I want you to see it because I truly believe that it will touch your heart and will be a blessing to you. And I can think of no better way to remind you that a new movie about love is coming to you than to share with you the brief story of love I read in The Dash. Here it is:
"I recently had dinner with someone who told me that one of his best friends had been killed in a private plane crash, and something happened at the service that he shall never forget. He shared the story with me."At the memorial service, his friend's wife walked to the podium to speak to the gathering. She said a friend had asked her the best memory she had of their life together. At the moment she been too grief-stricken to answer, but she'd thought about it since and wanted to answer the question. "They were in their late forties when he died, and she began talking about a time in her their life almost twenty years earlier. She had quit her job to obtain her master's degree, and her husband had never wavered in his support."He held down his own job and also did the cooking, cleaning and other household chores while she studied for her degree."One time they both stayed up all night. She was finishing her thesis and he was preparing for an important business meeting. That morning, she walked out on their loft, looked at him over the railing, and just thought about how much she loved him. She knew how important this meeting was to his career, and she was feeling guilty that she didn't even have time to make him breakfast. He grabbed his briefcase and hurried out. She heard the garage door open and close, but much to her surprise, she heard it open again about thirty seconds later. From above, she watched her husband dash into the house and walk over to the neglected coffee table. Tracing his finger through the dust, he wrote the words, 'I love you.' Then he raced back to his car."The new widow then looked out at her audience and said, 'John and I had a wonderful life together. We've been around the world several times. We've had everything money can buy...but nothing comes close to that moment.'"Our Dash moves with lightning speed. It feels like yesterday that I graduated from college and now thirty-eight years have passed. Although I am very proud of my business accomplishments, in the end life comes back to loving and being loved."
Mac is right, of course. It does all come back to being loved. Love is at the core of every blessing sent out and every blessing received. It is, indeed, what makes the world go round. And it is what we all desire. I hope this message will serve as a reminder to be watching your inbox on Tuesday. And until then, I hope that you will let those in your life know how much you love them. It is not only a gift you give to others, it is the greatest gift you can give yourself. If you would like to know more about Linda and Mac' book, "The Dash," click on the link below. It will take you to a short movie featuring Linda's poem, which is the core of the book and the subject of the title. Enjoy. http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?0le3QnHDLcliJFh5S7KxuQUntil Tuesday, Know you are loved beyond measure and a cherished blessing to me.
May you be blessed With all things good,
Kate
Dear Charity,
Hello, it's Kate again, sending gentle blessings your way tucked within the folds of a simple question....Has anyone told you today that you are loved?
I hope so. I was thinking about how much we all love to be told we are loved as I re-read a chapter in the beautiful gift book written by Linda Ellis and Mac Anderson, entitled "The Dash." It is one of those books that I return to time and time again, not because I've never fully read it before, but because I believe it contains such a wealth of comforting wisdom worthy of being read over and over. If you have been keeping up with the recent updates I've sent out, then you are aware that Tuesday, September 4th is a big day for the Blessings Project. I will be releasing a new movie on that date entitled "Has Anyone Told You?" and, as you may have already guessed, the subject of the movie is Love. The unconditional kind. The kind we all are hungry for. As I was reading the chapter on Love this morning, it occurred to me how important it is to all of us and how very much I want you to receive the new movie this week because it contains a message of Love. I want very much to make certain that you are aware the movie will be coming on Tuesday and are watching for it. I want you to see it because I truly believe that it will touch your heart and will be a blessing to you. And I can think of no better way to remind you that a new movie about love is coming to you than to share with you the brief story of love I read in The Dash. Here it is:
"I recently had dinner with someone who told me that one of his best friends had been killed in a private plane crash, and something happened at the service that he shall never forget. He shared the story with me."At the memorial service, his friend's wife walked to the podium to speak to the gathering. She said a friend had asked her the best memory she had of their life together. At the moment she been too grief-stricken to answer, but she'd thought about it since and wanted to answer the question. "They were in their late forties when he died, and she began talking about a time in her their life almost twenty years earlier. She had quit her job to obtain her master's degree, and her husband had never wavered in his support."He held down his own job and also did the cooking, cleaning and other household chores while she studied for her degree."One time they both stayed up all night. She was finishing her thesis and he was preparing for an important business meeting. That morning, she walked out on their loft, looked at him over the railing, and just thought about how much she loved him. She knew how important this meeting was to his career, and she was feeling guilty that she didn't even have time to make him breakfast. He grabbed his briefcase and hurried out. She heard the garage door open and close, but much to her surprise, she heard it open again about thirty seconds later. From above, she watched her husband dash into the house and walk over to the neglected coffee table. Tracing his finger through the dust, he wrote the words, 'I love you.' Then he raced back to his car."The new widow then looked out at her audience and said, 'John and I had a wonderful life together. We've been around the world several times. We've had everything money can buy...but nothing comes close to that moment.'"Our Dash moves with lightning speed. It feels like yesterday that I graduated from college and now thirty-eight years have passed. Although I am very proud of my business accomplishments, in the end life comes back to loving and being loved."
Mac is right, of course. It does all come back to being loved. Love is at the core of every blessing sent out and every blessing received. It is, indeed, what makes the world go round. And it is what we all desire. I hope this message will serve as a reminder to be watching your inbox on Tuesday. And until then, I hope that you will let those in your life know how much you love them. It is not only a gift you give to others, it is the greatest gift you can give yourself. If you would like to know more about Linda and Mac' book, "The Dash," click on the link below. It will take you to a short movie featuring Linda's poem, which is the core of the book and the subject of the title. Enjoy. http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?0le3QnHDLcliJFh5S7KxuQUntil Tuesday, Know you are loved beyond measure and a cherished blessing to me.
May you be blessed With all things good,
Kate
I have two stories today…actually three that blend into four.
1- Saturday night I was in a particularly ornery mood and bless JJ’s heart he convinced me that riding bikes to the American Legion’s “Blues on the Bay” concert would be an okay thing to do. The cover was $25, but he said he could sneak us in. He loves being local and showing me the ropes. Skeptical that we could get in for free and that I would be able to leave my sour disposition at the door, it was a whiney ride. Once I started moving and breathing in the ocean air, the black cloud over my head dissipated along with the blackness that shelled my cold heart (he he). We did, in fact, get in for free. Since I didn’t have ID on me, my no-charge wrist band was light blue with dolphins jumping across it. (People’s reactions are funny when you tell them that you’re not drinking anyway.) The band was hopping and so were the attendees. The dance floor was packed. It seriously doesn’t take much to turn my frowns upside down. At first we sat to listen and this older gentleman in flip-flops, shorts, a WT tank top, trucker hat, white goatee—clearly toasted—pointed at me and motioned me to come to him. Yeah Right. I pointed at JJ with a look of disbelief on my face and then to the handful of single ladies sitting around us. He picked one who danced oh so very close to him. I am not endorsing alcohol consumption—it’s just really fun to be on a dance floor with people who are making fools of themselves and don’t give a hoot if you make a fool of yourself too. I love it. And I love that JJ will make a fool of himself with me. After the AL, we rode down to the Wedge. What a gorgeous night! Midnight blue skies and a nearly full moon lighting up a black ocean. See poem to the right.
2- Sunday morning, I was in the garage for something and I heard this whimpering. Weird. I continued working on my project and the whimpering continued, “mom…help me… mom… I can’t…” The house behind ours, separated only by a one-car wide alley, is a vacation rental and every week hosts different occupants. It’s a 4-bedroom, so it usually sees extended families. Well, my curiosity mixed with innate mothering instincts drove me to check into it. I walked over to the 6 foot, brown wooden plank fence and asked the whimpering voice if he was okay. “yes, I’m okay…but I can’t get…” I tried to peer in, but couldn’t see much. “do you need help?” I asked. “Yes, I need help.” “But you’re okay?” “yes, I’m okay.” I was trying to assess the seriousness of the situation. Did I need to intervene? Were they restraining their kid in a high chair with duct tape like I had seen a couple weeks ago on a video at school about the foster care system? Finally I asked, “Are you stuck?” and he said yes. So I tried to open the gate and he guided me to the “right gate” to open and there he was, this cute, blonde headed, probably 4-year-old boy with his arm trapped under the lid of a fiberglass storage bin. I lifted the lid and could barely heave it up enough for him to get out. How in the world did he open it enough to get stuck? Then I had to open it long enough for him to pull out one of the toys inside. I asked him if he was okay and then requested that he not try to get anymore toys without a grown up and he ran inside. I walked out of the gate and closed it and thought to myself, “His mom has no idea. I am a hero.” And then I lost all blessings due to my pride.
3- I’ll summarize this one. Today I finally applied for a California driver’s license. On my way to the DMV, this big, red, WT truck pulled out in front of me so that I had to slam on my breaks. I honked my horn and swerved around him. As I passed him, he let out a string of expletives at the top of his lungs, including calling me a really bad name and said that he could #$*&#@* run me over—which is true. He could have run me over. That’s the part I could make out, cause I rolled up my windows as fast as they would go. Argh. Someday, those kind of things will not affect me and I will not react in an unsafe manner. All I could think to do was say a prayer of gratitude that I do not have people like that in my life and run across them infrequently.
4- Which reminds me of story #4: A couple weeks ago, another guy yelled at me for “talking on my cell phone while driving” and I wasn’t even talking on my phone!! Ridiculous. He told me that he had been hit by a lady talking on her phone to which I said, “I’m sorry, but it wasn’t me.” I also said, “Are you kidding me?” and I wanted to say, “Your kids (he was in the passenger seat and had three teenage girls in the back) must be so embarrassed by you.” But, again—all I can do is say a big “THANK YOU” to the positive and uplifting people in my life.
1- Saturday night I was in a particularly ornery mood and bless JJ’s heart he convinced me that riding bikes to the American Legion’s “Blues on the Bay” concert would be an okay thing to do. The cover was $25, but he said he could sneak us in. He loves being local and showing me the ropes. Skeptical that we could get in for free and that I would be able to leave my sour disposition at the door, it was a whiney ride. Once I started moving and breathing in the ocean air, the black cloud over my head dissipated along with the blackness that shelled my cold heart (he he). We did, in fact, get in for free. Since I didn’t have ID on me, my no-charge wrist band was light blue with dolphins jumping across it. (People’s reactions are funny when you tell them that you’re not drinking anyway.) The band was hopping and so were the attendees. The dance floor was packed. It seriously doesn’t take much to turn my frowns upside down. At first we sat to listen and this older gentleman in flip-flops, shorts, a WT tank top, trucker hat, white goatee—clearly toasted—pointed at me and motioned me to come to him. Yeah Right. I pointed at JJ with a look of disbelief on my face and then to the handful of single ladies sitting around us. He picked one who danced oh so very close to him. I am not endorsing alcohol consumption—it’s just really fun to be on a dance floor with people who are making fools of themselves and don’t give a hoot if you make a fool of yourself too. I love it. And I love that JJ will make a fool of himself with me. After the AL, we rode down to the Wedge. What a gorgeous night! Midnight blue skies and a nearly full moon lighting up a black ocean. See poem to the right.
2- Sunday morning, I was in the garage for something and I heard this whimpering. Weird. I continued working on my project and the whimpering continued, “mom…help me… mom… I can’t…” The house behind ours, separated only by a one-car wide alley, is a vacation rental and every week hosts different occupants. It’s a 4-bedroom, so it usually sees extended families. Well, my curiosity mixed with innate mothering instincts drove me to check into it. I walked over to the 6 foot, brown wooden plank fence and asked the whimpering voice if he was okay. “yes, I’m okay…but I can’t get…” I tried to peer in, but couldn’t see much. “do you need help?” I asked. “Yes, I need help.” “But you’re okay?” “yes, I’m okay.” I was trying to assess the seriousness of the situation. Did I need to intervene? Were they restraining their kid in a high chair with duct tape like I had seen a couple weeks ago on a video at school about the foster care system? Finally I asked, “Are you stuck?” and he said yes. So I tried to open the gate and he guided me to the “right gate” to open and there he was, this cute, blonde headed, probably 4-year-old boy with his arm trapped under the lid of a fiberglass storage bin. I lifted the lid and could barely heave it up enough for him to get out. How in the world did he open it enough to get stuck? Then I had to open it long enough for him to pull out one of the toys inside. I asked him if he was okay and then requested that he not try to get anymore toys without a grown up and he ran inside. I walked out of the gate and closed it and thought to myself, “His mom has no idea. I am a hero.” And then I lost all blessings due to my pride.
3- I’ll summarize this one. Today I finally applied for a California driver’s license. On my way to the DMV, this big, red, WT truck pulled out in front of me so that I had to slam on my breaks. I honked my horn and swerved around him. As I passed him, he let out a string of expletives at the top of his lungs, including calling me a really bad name and said that he could #$*&#@* run me over—which is true. He could have run me over. That’s the part I could make out, cause I rolled up my windows as fast as they would go. Argh. Someday, those kind of things will not affect me and I will not react in an unsafe manner. All I could think to do was say a prayer of gratitude that I do not have people like that in my life and run across them infrequently.
4- Which reminds me of story #4: A couple weeks ago, another guy yelled at me for “talking on my cell phone while driving” and I wasn’t even talking on my phone!! Ridiculous. He told me that he had been hit by a lady talking on her phone to which I said, “I’m sorry, but it wasn’t me.” I also said, “Are you kidding me?” and I wanted to say, “Your kids (he was in the passenger seat and had three teenage girls in the back) must be so embarrassed by you.” But, again—all I can do is say a big “THANK YOU” to the positive and uplifting people in my life.
s-e-v-e-n-t-e-e-n
The name Bethany, literally translated as house of figs, is shared by a multitude of places and people. Most commonly refers to the village of Bethany near Jerusalem; which, according to the New Testament, was the site of the resurrection of Lazarus.
Bethany is also a female given name. Its meaning is usually given as "house of blessings".
BIBLE DICTIONARY | Bethany | House of dates | Village two miles from Jerusalem, on the southeast slope of Olivet; the home of Lazarus and of Simon; the village in which our Lord stayed during Holy Week.
Also known as Bethany : my youngest sister.
Also known as Bethany : my youngest sister.
Crazy as in Cool.
Athletic. Way more than me.
Stylish beyond compare.
Funny as all get out. Whatever than means. Just plain funny.
Sweetest. Always.HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
i love you forever.
Motivation for Change
I've been thinking a lot about change lately. There are several kinds of change really, two of which are [1] the change that is inevitable and out of our conscious control and [2] the changes that we create. But, how do we get to the type that we consciously create. Was it Henley who said, "I am the master of my fate...the captain of my soul" ?
My current read, "Motivational Interviewing," discusses change in regards to how counselors, therapists, physicians encourage positive behavior changes. I find the authors' ideas interestingly true, specifically the idea that I cannot make someone change. In fact, the more I argue for the change, the more the other person will argue to keep the status quo. So, what do I do to encourage my clients to make positive change? Pretty much nothing. Or rather, it looks like nothing. That's the trick that will make me the big bucks down the road. I listen, ask questions, restate, lead, and most importantly I do not judge. It's like a dance. However, I feel like Hok from this last season of "So You Think You Can Dance" doing the Viennese Waltz. So clumsy but trying so hard to get it right!
And so for now I borrow others' theories of change, but someday I will synthesize all of my acquired knowledge into my theory of change. But, it won't really be mine...
My current read, "Motivational Interviewing," discusses change in regards to how counselors, therapists, physicians encourage positive behavior changes. I find the authors' ideas interestingly true, specifically the idea that I cannot make someone change. In fact, the more I argue for the change, the more the other person will argue to keep the status quo. So, what do I do to encourage my clients to make positive change? Pretty much nothing. Or rather, it looks like nothing. That's the trick that will make me the big bucks down the road. I listen, ask questions, restate, lead, and most importantly I do not judge. It's like a dance. However, I feel like Hok from this last season of "So You Think You Can Dance" doing the Viennese Waltz. So clumsy but trying so hard to get it right!
And so for now I borrow others' theories of change, but someday I will synthesize all of my acquired knowledge into my theory of change. But, it won't really be mine...
What's the Consensus?
The night we all had been waiting and counting down for has come and gone, though the remains still find themselves on my DVR. So. Which is it? Cast your vote to the right,to the right,--> all your votes to the box at the right...
I'm so lame.
hello fall!
This is kind of how I feel right now. I have three book cases full of books in my tiny, ity-bity room. And come August 20th, I'll probably have half-a-dozen more to add. I love books, don't get me wrong, I just need my own library or den or study or maybe all three in a big house that is already paid off!
p.s. in a perfect world, we could all afford to live the j.crew lifestyle and wear their clothing.
Try this one...
simpsonizeme.com
Can you tell that I am so bored at work. Nearly our entire office is at our So Cal regional conference at the St. Regis in Dana Point. Blah. Only a few more minutes and then I get to go write a paper. Help? I have to discuss 1-2 intergenerational theories for 12 pages. I should've brought my books to Sperry. As long as I'm wasting company cash.
Can you tell that I am so bored at work. Nearly our entire office is at our So Cal regional conference at the St. Regis in Dana Point. Blah. Only a few more minutes and then I get to go write a paper. Help? I have to discuss 1-2 intergenerational theories for 12 pages. I should've brought my books to Sperry. As long as I'm wasting company cash.
I was right...
Apparently, this new MTV treat is going to ruin Newport Beach. Just like it ruined Laguna. I think if any of the guys turn out to be water polo players, we might have to go into hiding after JJ takes matters into his own hands.
John is going to flip his lid! MTV's newest version of the real OC is now at his alma mater, Newport Harbor. Unbelievable. I have to watch it. I'm going to get hooked and will never hear the end of it. Argh...
I just sent the link to Holly (roommate) who responded, "Are you effing kidding me?"
No. I'm not. I wish I was.
Can I resist?? resist, resist, resist.
I just sent the link to Holly (roommate) who responded, "Are you effing kidding me?"
No. I'm not. I wish I was.
Can I resist?? resist, resist, resist.
Cowabunga!
We finally made it to the OC Fair last night for the bull riding.
I found out a bit about John. He loves to feed goats. We fed goats for a good 45 minutes. And then we had to eat our cinnamon roll with the goats so he could watch them. Oh, my cute hick-at-heart! Few of you know that he was raised on a ranch on California's central coast. I think he felt right at home...
I do not handle carney rides well. I've known it since I was a little girl. I'm just sensitive like that. I rode two rides. The first one was pretty fun and scared the crap out of me. John didn't tell me until later that night that my face went pale after the first ride. But, it was the second ride that did me in. Because John is so much bigger than me, the lap bar stopped about 6 inches above my lap. I was totally thrown around. All I could do was close my eyes and say, "Make it stop, make it stop!" If I was pale before the second ride, I was translucent afterwards.
I didn't ride this one... "evolution".
Something about falling asleep smelling like an open fire and feeling queezy kind of trumped the joy of eating grilled corn-on-the-cob and getting my face painted (didn't really do that part).
Blogger Tag
I'm not sure what this tag thing is, but I just saw that I was tagged by Destiny on her blog.
Employment...
1. Schlotsky's Deli : Orem (3 months : age 16)
2. Cougar Copy : Provo (freshman year @ BYU)
3. Drawing class model : Laie, HI
4. Gap, Gap, and more Gap
5. Z Gallerie : Fashion Island
6. Receptionist for a law firm : Newport
7. Broker coordinator, Sperry Van Ness : Irvine
Favorite Movies...
1. How to lose a guy...
2. French Kiss
3. Other standard chick flicks
4. have to add...Jason Bourne
There's no place like home...
1. Provo, UT
2. Albuquerque, NM
3. Taylorsville, UT
4. Chandler/Gilbert, AZ
5. Laie, HI
6. Vernon, BC, CAN
7. Nanaimo, BC, CAN
8. Chilliwack, BC, CAN
9. Newport Beach, CA
Favorite TV Shows... (kind of embarrassed to say)
1. Family Guy
2. Arrested Development
3. Idol/So you think you can dance
4. Survivor Man/Man vs. Wild/other discovery channel & TLC shows.
5. The Office
Vacay (I need one SO bad right now!!)
1. Santa Barbara, San Fransisco, Palm Springs, San Diego & Catalina, CA
2. Oahu, Maui, HI
3. Clearwater & Miami, FL
4. New York & Ithaca/Buffalo/upstate), NY
5. Rome, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Lake Como & Milan, Italy
6. England
7. Scotland
8. Wales
9. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico
10. Kansas City, Navoo
Favorite Food...
1. Grilled salmon with some yummy veggies
2. Cafe Rio salad (half chicken, half pork). wish it were closer.
3. La Fogata macho nachos!!
4. Bajio's sweet corn tamales on Tuesdays in Utah. wish it were closer.
5. Quizno's raspberry chipotle chicken salad
The Web...I pretty much get paid to be online all day
1. blogs
2. local.live.com
3. google
4. ots.svn.com
5. marthastewart.com
Places I Would Rather Be Right Now...
1. Hawaii
2. I agree with Dest--in my bed, but not with a book just sleeping
and now I "tag" other peeps?
ready...set...go
Emily
Kaitlyn
Melissa
Megan
Paige
(I guess if you've already been "tagged" before, you're exempt from having to do it again??)
Employment...
1. Schlotsky's Deli : Orem (3 months : age 16)
2. Cougar Copy : Provo (freshman year @ BYU)
3. Drawing class model : Laie, HI
4. Gap, Gap, and more Gap
5. Z Gallerie : Fashion Island
6. Receptionist for a law firm : Newport
7. Broker coordinator, Sperry Van Ness : Irvine
Favorite Movies...
1. How to lose a guy...
2. French Kiss
3. Other standard chick flicks
4. have to add...Jason Bourne
There's no place like home...
1. Provo, UT
2. Albuquerque, NM
3. Taylorsville, UT
4. Chandler/Gilbert, AZ
5. Laie, HI
6. Vernon, BC, CAN
7. Nanaimo, BC, CAN
8. Chilliwack, BC, CAN
9. Newport Beach, CA
Favorite TV Shows... (kind of embarrassed to say)
1. Family Guy
2. Arrested Development
3. Idol/So you think you can dance
4. Survivor Man/Man vs. Wild/other discovery channel & TLC shows.
5. The Office
Vacay (I need one SO bad right now!!)
1. Santa Barbara, San Fransisco, Palm Springs, San Diego & Catalina, CA
2. Oahu, Maui, HI
3. Clearwater & Miami, FL
4. New York & Ithaca/Buffalo/upstate), NY
5. Rome, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Lake Como & Milan, Italy
6. England
7. Scotland
8. Wales
9. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico
10. Kansas City, Navoo
Favorite Food...
1. Grilled salmon with some yummy veggies
2. Cafe Rio salad (half chicken, half pork). wish it were closer.
3. La Fogata macho nachos!!
4. Bajio's sweet corn tamales on Tuesdays in Utah. wish it were closer.
5. Quizno's raspberry chipotle chicken salad
The Web...I pretty much get paid to be online all day
1. blogs
2. local.live.com
3. google
4. ots.svn.com
5. marthastewart.com
Places I Would Rather Be Right Now...
1. Hawaii
2. I agree with Dest--in my bed, but not with a book just sleeping
and now I "tag" other peeps?
ready...set...go
Emily
Kaitlyn
Melissa
Megan
Paige
(I guess if you've already been "tagged" before, you're exempt from having to do it again??)
You think I'd fit in down in Springfield?
I got this link from my cute sis-in-law, Liz. Check it out!http://www.simpsonsmovie.com/
I made one of John but didn't post it at first. Then Collin and Liz made one...which do you like better?
I just got an email from my mom outlining some interesting facts stimulated by the recent ban of personal size water bottles in San Franciso.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19378595/site/newsweek/from/ET/
Did you know:
• Over 45 million plastic water bottles a year end up in the trash? • For those that aren't recycled, it takes 1,000 years to break them down? • Of those that are thought to be recycled, the evidence is that 90% of them still end up in landfills, according the Container Recycling Institute of California? • That the cost to manufacture those bottles is enormous, consumingover 250,000 million barrels of oil each year? • That over 40% of bottled water is taken from a municipal tap, somewhere? • That several tests of bottled water showed some to be higher incontaminants than municipal water? • That most bottled water is ACIDIC? • That any squeezeably soft bottle is soft enough to leach dioxin, aknown carcinogen, into the fluid it has stored? • That the tap water alternative that Rocky Anderson suggests couldleave you ingesting up to 90 legally allowable chemicals? (according to the E.P.A.) • That the tap water you might drink instead contains chlorine, forsure, and that chlorine has been linked to breast cancer and other cancers? • That the chlorine you drink in just one glass of tap water is justas effective in killing off the needed healthy bacteria in your gut as it is in killing off the bad unhealthy bacteria that it kills in the pipes? • That reverse osmosis membranes have been "improved" to the pointthat they not only take out chemicals, but they also remove most of the needed minerals, as well, leaving it very nearly as hungry of a water as distilled water is? • That experts warn against drinking distilled water for more than ashort term cleansing fast, as it will leach minerals out of your bones? • That there is a better solution????
www.BalanceAndHeal.com
Go Mom!!
Just a spoonful of sugar!
I was laying on the beach the other day, trying to relax--something that has become increasingly difficult to do--because I was thinking of all the things on my "to do" list. And, Mary Poppins voice wafted across my memory. Oh how I wish I could snap my room clean, or snap my laundry folded, or snap my dry cleaning picked up, or snap my papers written, or snap my stomach full and satisfied. Uh, yes. Even feeding myself becomes a chore sometimes.
"Just a spoonful of sugar can make the medicine go down in the most delightful way."
Did I miss the whole moral of that scene?
In every job that must be done there is an element of fun.
You find the fun and
Snap!
The job's a game?? Where is MY Mary Poppins?
"Just a spoonful of sugar can make the medicine go down in the most delightful way."
Did I miss the whole moral of that scene?
In every job that must be done there is an element of fun.
You find the fun and
Snap!
The job's a game?? Where is MY Mary Poppins?
Lost Art
Van Gough : The Sower
Not : The Sower and a Tree
I really want this for my wall. A big one. Mural size.
Last summer at the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach (I highly recommend attending this incredible & innovative event to anyone), this was one of the players' creations . Usually the orchestra plays the music, but during this presentation, Christine Day's version of "Fields of Gold" was piping through the ampitheatre. I was deeply moved and felt very connected.
And now, when I see this image or hear Day's rendition I feel joy! Which reminds me of a whole new post...
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