That is brand new information!!

I have made it no secret that I love the television show Friends. I have a hidden talent where I can relate any real-life situation to something that happened on an episode of Friends. What can I say? I'm simply gifted.

I have several theories as to why Friends was so successful. The obvious being that it was a funny show. They had good writers and talented comedic actors that had a real chemistry with one another. But like I said, that's the obvious reason. I think there is an underlying reason as to why the show was so popular.

We want to live their lives. Not just because they live in New York and have fairly interesting careers. We want to live their lives because they have 6 intimate friendships. That is many more than most people in the United States can boast of. My Pastor, John Jackson, sent me an article yesterday about this very issue. It was disturbing reading. The study, published in the American Sociological Review, revealed that 25 % of Americans have no one to confide in. A quarter of our nation has no one to confide matters that are important to them. That's really sad. And lonely.

But also very telling. No wonder we love to watch Friends. Watching Friends is watching the relationships that many people long for. That a quarter of American's apparently lack completely. Who wouldn't want to have the kind of relationship where you can just walk in and out of each other's apartments? The kind of friendship where you can just hang out with someone and not have to entertain them?

At it's core, Friends was a show about relationships. And I believe that is ultimately why it was so successful.

But I still watch it because it is so darn funny...

Hey Baby, er, Griddle Cakes!

I love pancakes. And my Dad makes the best pancakes you've ever tasted. Unfortunately, I don't think pancake making is a genetic trait because I stink at making pancakes. I've tried; believe me I've tried. In my defense I think it has something to do with the fact that Dad makes them on this really old and seasoned griddle, whereas I attempt to cook them in a not so seasoned skillet. But dang, I really want a good pancake.

I am resting in the fact that in one week my Dad will be here. I plan on petitioning him for some pancakes. He loves me, so I'm sure he'll oblige. Hopefully, having his pancakes next week will hold me over until Thanksgiving when I see him again...

Oldies but Goodies

I am a dichotomy (I really love that word.). It seems that it is when I have the most to say that I cannot find the right words to say it. Or that when I have the most stories to tell I cannot decide which one to relate. Like I said - dichotomy.

So I'm just going to make a list. I really like lists. They organize and strategize. This list is not meant to do either; but that does not detract from the fact that I really like lists. So here is my random, but still wonderful, list.

1. The high temperture today was 102 degrees. Shoot me now.

2. I really miss playing my instruments. I realized the other day that I have five - count them five - instruments in my apartment that I never play. My own fault, I know. But it is still a hole in my soul.

3. I only have to drive the Green Machine for seven more days. This week cannot pass soon enough.

4. 102 Days until I leave for Hawaii. Uh, that sounds like an awful lot of days.

5. I had a dream I went on a mission to Africa. I am going to choose to believe it was NOT prophetic.

6. We did a Mercy Me song this weekend in our services. There is a line that has really stuck in my head: "If I give the very best of me, that becomes my legacy." Let your mind roll that around for a while.

7. I wish I had a pen pal.

8. The soundtrack to the 2005 film "Pride and Prejudice" is breathtaking music. It is food for my soul.

9. I'm feeling restless. Not bored. Restless. Those of you who are plagued by restlessness will understand.

10. Someone explain to me why I can go grocery shopping, come home with food, and still feel like I have nothing worth eating in my kitchen. I don't get it.

Everything's Coming up...

Perk #24 about being a grown-up: No one can tell me I can't eat Strawberry Shortcake for breakfast. MMmmmm good.

Happy Anniversary

"Happy Anniversary to me. Happy Anniversary to me. Happy Anniversary dear Jeanne. Happy Anniversary to me."

Today, June 20th 2006, is my one year anniversary working for Carson Valley Christian Center. It is a day of celebration.

My team even celebrated with me. As a surprise, I got a really nice card and a generous gift from my Arts Pastor and my Vocal Team. They are the best.

I love my job.

Vegas, Day 2

The second day of our Vegas retreat was just as good as the first. Saturday we traveled to Canyon Ridge Christian Church and Central Christian Church to meet with their Arts Staff and attend their services (we actually attended Central's service Sunday morning). It was really great to see what other people are doing, to hear their philosophy of ministry, and to talk with them about Arts in the church. The whole experience was very productive.

Once we arrived back at the hotel, Steve, Kirsten, Christina and myself went up the top of the Stratosphere. It is 109 stories tall (I believe the tallest building in Vegas...). There are rides up there, but I'm a big chicken and had no desire to go on them. One ride, called the Big Shot, shoots you straight up in the air. Not my idea of fun. Another ride called Insanity dangles you over the edge of the building and twirls you around. Again, doesn't look like fun. The last ride is a roller coaster that takes you off the edge of the building and drops you. Yeah, like I'm gonna do that. But it was a lot of fun to go up there. The view was amazing! Here are some pictures.

Vegas, Day 1

Our Arts Team retreat to Vegas was fantastic! Day one (Friday) was spent in large part traveling and getting checked into our hotel, the Stratosphere. We ate dinner at a really nice food court at Ceasar's Palace (see photo). I ate a delicious hamburger. Mmmmm.

After we finished eating, we saw Celine Dion's show, A New Day. It was, without a doubt, the most amazing show I have ever seen. It managed to be visually stunning without being over the top. The marriage of song, lighting, media and dance was just perfect. I sat leaning forward in my seat the entire show. Watching the show in a reclined position was just not an option. The show was worth every single penny. In fact, I would pay more to see it again. Below is a photo of our group as we were about to enter the theater.
After the show, we walked over to the Bellagio and watched a few of the fountain shows. It was so beautiful. I am sure that the show would be beautiful during the day, but it was just breathtaking at night with all the lights. Here's a picture:

By the time we made it back to the hotel, it was a little after midnight. Since Vegas is the city that never sleeps, we decided to go to an all night diner that was in our hotel. They had a section of the menu called "Midnight Madness" that was breakfast specials that they served from Midnight to 5am. We all sat in the diner and talked about the show until about 1:30 am. It was the most fun I have had in a long time. It was the perfect end to Day 1 of our retreat.

Up, Up, Up and Away!

Almost time for Vegas! Don't worry, I'll bring you back a present.

Wilting...

I'm really not a hot weather kinda girl. I wilt under the heat. If I could live in a climate where it was perpetually fall I'd do it. Unfortunately, I don't think that place exists. Dang.

Vegas, Baby!

In five short days I am going to be livin' it up in Vegas. Nope - not like that. Our Arts Staff is going on a retreat to Vegas this next weekend to visit Canyon Ridge Christian Church and Central Christian Church. We'll be sitting in on rehearsals, talking with their staff, and attending their weekend services. I'm stoked.

We are also seeing Celine Dion while we are there. The tickets were mucho expensivo...but probably going to prove to be worth it!

And, for those of you long time readers...remember my list of things to do before I am 25? (The day is rapidly approaching, by the way). This weekend I am going to be able to cross #1 off my list - to see the fountains at the Bellagio. I plan to take lots and lots of pictures. I'll post some when I get back.

I don't rest well. I'm a mover and a doer - so when I am not moving or doing I have trouble knowing what exactly to do. Maybe if I start thinking of resting as an actual activity I would do better.

I'm still recovering from my food poisoning battle from Wednesday. I actually felt worse today than I did yesterday. I attribute that to the fact that I worked a full day yesterday and didn't give my body any time to rest or heal. My sister told me I was crazy...but unfortunately it couldn't be helped. So today I only worked half a day. I wouldn't have made it through a whole day alive anyway. I did what I absolutely had to get finished for the weekend, rented a few movies, came home and began my resting.

For the first few hours it was not terribly difficult. I felt awful. I wanted to rest. My head felt as though someone was banging on it with a hammer. I was feeling skittish about taking medicine...I'm afraid everything I put in my stomach now is going to cause some revolt. I suppose I will eventually get over this as I cannot live off of applesauce and gatorade for the rest of my life. After about four hours of unbelievable headache pain I relented and took some Ibuprofen. My head now feels mildly better.

I still don't feel well. And I don't want to go anywhere or do anything because I would probably fall down after the first 15 minutes - but I am tired of resting.

Ah, such a dilemma. Back to my movies.

Back from the dead

I got food poisoning. It was awful and I pretty much wanted to die. I won't gross out with the nitty gritty details, but suffice to say I would rather cut off my right arm than go through it again. Nuff said.

I just finished watching the National Spelling Bee. It was much more interesting than one would think. I watched it for an hour and a half and I knew ONE word. Not I knew how to spell one word...I had heard of one word: Koine. And I only knew this word because I know what Koine Greek is. It's depressing that there are a whole host of 7th and 8th graders that are smarter than I am. And did you know that these kids have spelling coaches? Interesting.

There was one classic moment I would like to recount. One boy spelled his word incorrectly, so he is back stage being interviewed. The reporter asks him, "You placed significantly higher this year. What do you attribute this to?" The kid replies, "I don't know. God?"

I thought it was classic, anyway.