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.

Much Ado About Nothing.

Ok, not nothing. Lot's of little somethings I guess.

I'm going on my first grown-up vacation. To Hawaii. That's right...Hawaii. Much thanks to my sister and her husband who are stationed in Honolulu. I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to ten days with my sister on a beach. I'm turning my phone off. And my email will be off-limits.

It will be a vacation of firsts for me. My first time in Hawaii - My first time on a military base - My first time staying in the home of my MARRIED sister (sorry Krys....still weird when I remember you're married. Good weird, of course.) It is really very exciting.

I'm learning to run sound. It's complicated. But to my advantage I have an excellent teacher. Our Tech Director knows more about sound than....well I can't think of a good comparison. But suffice it to say that he knows a whole heckava lot. The hardest part is EQ. Intellectually, I understand what all the buttons do. I can explain where the signal gets routed and why. And my ear can tell you what is wrong with a sound, but I haven't yet mastered how to EQ it. I need to learn to connect what my ear says is wrong to what knob on the board to turn. All ear training, according to Dave. I gotta be honest that nothing has made me feel like more of an idiot than this whole EQ business. I suppose I'll master it...eventually.

I suppose learning new complicated processes are good for me. I'll just consider learning all about audio equipment and EQ an exercise in staving off Alzheimer's.

Man, I'm tired. Time for bed.

A Scathing Review

*Note: If you don't want to know how this movie ends, don't read this.

Last night I watched the movie The Family Stone (Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Diane Keaton, Claire Danes, Craig T. Nelson, and Dermot Mulroney). I don't recommend it. The best comparison I can think of is "a bad Meet the Parents."

Not one of the characters are likeable. And Merideth (Sarah Jessica Parker) is the only character that you can remotely sympathize with. And even that is a stretch. The whole family is a rude, horrible, vulgar, dysfunctional mess.

Here is the plot in a nutshell. Dermot Mulroney's character (Everett) is dating Sarah Jessica Parker's character, and he brings her to his family's home for Christmas with the intention of getting his grandmother's wedding ring and proposing to Merideth. The family hates her, are horrible to her, and push her towards asking her sister Julie (Claire Danes) to come for moral support. Ben (Luke Wilson), Everett's brother, ends up having a thing for Merideth, and Everett ends up having a thing for Julie. To add insult to injury, you find out Diane Keaton's breast cancer has returned and she is dying.

Merideth and Everett end up breaking up, Julie ends up with Everett, and Ben ends up with Merideth. They try and redeem the movie by adding an epilogue that takes place the next Christmas. You see all the happy couples decorating a tree sans Mom, who has passed away some time that year. I know this ending was supposed to satisfy me in some way, but all I could think was these horrible characters had cheated on one another with their siblings. Yeah, there really is no redeeming that. And the mother was such a horrible woman that I had a really hard time feeling bad that she was gone. And then I felt bad that I didn't feel bad.

If you haven't seen it, don't waste your time. A Christmas classic it is not.

mmm...

There is just nothing in the world like the feeling of clean sheets.

Sisters and Tower of Power

Today was a really fun day. Most days at work have elements that are really fun. But almost all of today was a blast. Dave calls me a few minutes before staff today (Dave is on vacation) and tells me that we (we meaning our Creative Arts Team) needs to cancel our meeting and go with him to Reno to watch the Maytan Soul Band perform at a grade school assembly. I'm totally game. I told him I'd talk to Steve and get back to him. The point of the trip would be to network with other musicians in the area. Introduce ourselves, show support for what musicians in the Carson-Reno area are doing. Dave is the one with the connection with the band. He met them at a rehearsal they had a few months back.
Here's something I love about our Creative Arts Pastor, Steve - He's totally flexible, game for adventure, and passionate about people in our community. Hence, when I told him about Dave's idea, he was completely game. And in a matter of minutes our meeting had become mobile, the decision made to travel to Reno and watch the band.
Here's another thing I love about my job. I get the privilege to work with really smart, talented people. It is a pleasure to simply talk with them. The hour drive to Reno was fun simply because it gave us all an uninterrupted hour to talk about ministry. It was great. I feel like the trip was worth it simply for that time in the Suburban. But I digress.
The concert was short (it was grade school children, afterall) but AWESOME. There was a full horn section and rhythm section, and a vocalist. They really were unbelievable musicians. After the concert we introduced ourselves to the band and chatted for a few minutes.
Seriously, who has a better job than I do? Who else would get to take a roadtrip on a Wednesday to go to a gradeschool assembly?
Try not to be too jealous.

Days of Old...

Last night I ran sound for the Douglas High School Senior Awards Night (They used our auditorium). Their Jazz Band played for about 45 minutes before the program began. They were actually pretty good. Not since I graduated high school six years ago have I missed playing my instruments so much. My heart squeezed with all the memories. I don't have very many memories of high school that don't include band, choir, or chamber ensemble.

But mostly band.

My mind replayed a hundred different scenes while they were playing: Touring around to the different grade schools and giving concerts. Our trip to Florida to play at Disney. Our trip to Texas to play at Six Flags. Marching band competitions where it was a hundred degrees and I am wearing a hot, heavy band uniform. Band camp. Amoeba tag. Mr. Tallman. Watching the University of Illinois Marching Band. Mrs. Reem. The glock block. Doing countless half-time shows at Friday night football games. Long bus rides.

And as my mind plays these scenes I see the people I miss most - Laura, Lucas, Brock, Lindsey, Rusty, Darcie, Angie, Jamie. Many others. Some who I still talk with. Many more who I do not. But they still exist in my mind. Out on the practice field. Out on the football field. Up in the band room.

I love that I have these memories. I wouldn't go back to high school. But I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

I have been thinking quite a bit on relationships lately and although I am far from being an expert, I have come to a few conclusions. First and most obvious, they are important. When God said that it is not good for man to be alone I don't believe that He was speaking exclusively about the husband-wife relationship. We were created to know and be known by God and one another. God Himself is community. He is triune. Relationships are important.

Second, only you can decide which relationships will be important to you. No one can make this decision for someone else. I decide Jesus is important to me. I decide my family is important to me. The burden rests at my feet alone.

Third, relationships take work and energy or they die. All relationships. Family. God. Friends. Spouses. Co-workers. No relationship is exempt. They are an intentional effort for all involved. Deciding not to give someone your time, energy and heart is telling that person they are not important to you. And like a rose in the desert, it will die.

Fourth, relationships are worth the effort. I may not always feel like believing this, but God's word clearly teaches it. Think for a moment about the ultimate relationship: Us and God. He thinks we are worth the effort. So much so that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. So much so that the sin that separates me from Him was nailed to cross so I could know Him. So much so that He conquered death so I could have life. God believes relationships are worth the effort. I will too.

The Strawberry Code

I saw The Da Vinci Code last night. Overall, I was fairly disappointed. Simply put it was not a great movie. In spite of the fact that it pains me to read such horrible lies about Jesus, I enjoyed the book. It had interesting characters, was face paced and interesting. My number one complaint is Ron Howard failed to capture the pace of the book. The movie was just plain slow. I found myself repeatedly looking at my watch and thinking, "Holy cow! I can't believe it has only been five minutes since I last looked at my watch!" I do not regret having seen it, but for $8.75, I wish it had been a better film.

I am up to my ears in Strawberries. I was at Costco yesterday buying batteries for the weekend, and I wandered into the produce section. (Costco has really great produce!). I love strawberries, but have been disappointed with the selection at Walmart. They are tiny berries, and I can't seem to get a package that I am satisfied with. So when I was wandering through Costco produce I notice a large display of very fine looking strawberries. A four pound package of giant California strawberries. Quite possibly the most delicious looking strawberries I have seen for some time. So I purchase them. And I am now eating strawberries at every meal in order to finish all four pounds before they spoil.

Strawberry Shortcake, anyone?

More expensive? Worth it!

I finally had a few free hours today when I could take my car to Les Schwab and have my snow tires swapped out for my regular season tires. Normally, I would go to Wal-Mart for my tire needs. They are cheaper, and my Dad is a big proponent of cheaper. But the customer service at Wal-Mart's Tire and Lube Express is non-existent. I have several stories about awful experiences I have had there. Each time I go there, I end up cursing my Dad and vowing never to return.
So when I needed my tires swapped I went to Les Schwab. I will NEVER go back to Wal-Mart. I don't care if Les Schwab ends up being twice as expensive; never again will I darken the doors of the Wal-Mart Tire and Lube Express. Let me tell you about my Les Schwab experience: I pull into the parking lot, fish around in my bag for a book to take in with me, and get out of the car. There waiting at my bumper is a Les Schwab employee. He says, "What can I help you with today, ma'am?" I'm stunned. I manage to say, "I need my snow tires removed." He smiles and says, "We can do that. Right this way." I follow him inside where he even opened the door for me. After taking my information, I sit down to wait. I anticipate a long wait. There are plenty of other customers, and I figure I'll be there an hour or more. I begin to read my book. I was sorrily mistaken about the time. Twenty minutes! In twenty minutes they were finished with my car. Everyone was polite. Everyone smiled at me. And the employees didn't look like escaped convicts.

Seriously, the best fifty-two dollars I ever spent.

I'm Sorry...Come Again?

I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker this week. It went a little something like this:

Dave: "Jeanne, I was thinking about your wedding last night."
Jeanne: "My what?"
Dave: "Your wedding. I know you might think it's weird, but my buddy swears by EHarmony.com."
Jeanne: "Um, thanks for thinking of me...But I don't think I am quite there yet."
Dave: "Well, you should think about it. The internet is really a proven way to meet people nowadays."
Jeanne: "Um, ok. I'll keep that in mind."

He was the second staffer in as many days to mention the fact that they want to find someone "wonderful" for me. I know that some people get really offended when people try and set them up, or bring up the fact that they really should be married. I happen not to be one of them. I know that these people just want to see me happy and cared for - and hence I try to put their comments in perspective. They mean well. And most of the time what they have to say is really funny. Case in point is my conversation with Dave. Plus, those single women who get all huffy about people trying to set them up really annoy me. You are single and fine with it. I get it. No need to be all snippy about it.

But I got to thinking about our society in general. Most people would agree that Americans as a whole consider marriage a goal. For them and for others. You should do it while you are young, and if you don't - well there is probably something wrong with you. Then I started thinking about some the most popular sitcoms/dramas on network television. Here is my list:
1. Friends - (it lives on in syndication!)
2. The CSI's
3. The Office
4. Scrubs
5. Sex and the City
6. Crossing Jordan
7. The Law and Order's
8. 24
9. Criminal Minds
10. Grey's Anatomy
I could name many others. Those are just a smattering of shows - but it would be hard to debate their popularity. My point is that when you start to take a look at the characters in these shows a common theme appears: Most of them are single. So then I starting thinking about shows that showcase married people. This was a much harder list to think of.
1. King of Queens
2. Medium
3. Everybody Loves Raymond
4. Desperate Housewives
And that is pretty much all I could think of.

So here is the dichotomy: Our society as a whole tells you your goal should be to get married. But the most popular shows on television are full of single people! Why aren't there more shows full of married people? That's the goal isn't it? Is it just better television to watch single people flounder around looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right? Probably.

I don't really have a point. It was just an interesting thought I had.

Environment madness!!

This weekend starts our series at CVC called "Unlocking the Da Vinci Code." I am pumped about the series and the environment that we have created for it in the auditorium. We wanted to create a museum, and I believe we have been successful! The artwork, fabric, and lighting all work together to create a really magical environment. To the left are a few pictures: The first is of Steve and Dave up on the lift hanging Da Vinci's Last Supper. (I was on the ground saying, "No a little to left...no, too far. Now a little to the right...") The next photo is what our East and West walls look like: Each wall has three pieces of framed artwork hung in front of a red tapestry with a gold swag. We hung each of them a few feet above eye level to give the room a "grand feel." It really worked. Lastly, each piece of artwork was spotlighted - again to go for that museum look. The third photo is what we created on stage: A GIANT Mona Lisa hung in front of a red curtain that is 11 feet tall and 8 feet wide, also with a gold swag. The camera couldn't capture exactly what we achieved...but behind the Mona Lisa is a white scrim with gold and red lighting shooting up in columns. Very, very cool. I'll see if I can get some better pictures later, but it was late and I was tired! Kudos to Steve, Dave, and Henry for all of their work! You guys rock!

Culinary Master

* 7 quart salad bowl: $ 0.97
* 10 oz bag of Spinach greens: $ 2.08
* 5 oz bag of Spring greens: $ 2.78
* 1 lb package of strawberries: $ 0.98
* 1 Cucumber: $ 0.58
* 1 package dried cranberries: $ 1.37
* 1 bottle Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette: $ 2.48
* My salad being the hit of the barbecue: Priceless.

Alright, God. Whaddaya want...

3:00 am. Was asleep. Sorta, anyway. Certainly not now.

Kept dreaming about can't even remember what now. But it was interrupting my sleep. A million sounds were edging on the perimeter of my consciousness. Can't identify any of them. Really annoying.

Really tired. Can't sleep. Suddenly worried not all windows and doors are locked. Go downstairs to double check. Been watching too much "It Takes a Thief." Satsified, trudge back upstairs. Still no sleep.

Close bedroom window. Blissfully quiet. But stuffy. Can't have fresh air and quiet. Dang.

Loss of sleep not amusing. Whaddaya want, God?

It Takes a Thief

One of my new favorite television shows is the Discovery Channel's "It Takes a Thief." The hosts of the show, Matt and Jon, are two ex-burglars who are out to teach people a lesson about home security. Here's how the show works: Matt and Jon will pick a neighborhood and from that neighborhood pick the house that is the most likely target for a burglary. They get the family to agree to let Jon attempt to burglarize the house with the family watching closed circuit televisions from a van. After the burglary, all the stuff is returned and the family gets a free home security renovation, and hopefully a new perspective about how "safe" they are. After the security upgrades are made, Jon and Matt return to try again to break into the house. I find it fascinating television. I'm not sure why...but I do. If you have the Discovery Channel you should check it out.

Dear Tom,

I hear that your movie, Mission Impossible III, did not fare as well this weekend at the box office as your movie execs had hoped. I cannot say that I am surprised, and I will tell you why. You have made a spectacle of yourself in public, and the general population doesn't like it.

Your couch-jumping, Brooke Shields bashing, Scientology spouting, harmful sonogram giving, and all around crazy behavior have left a bad taste in my mouth - and in other's as the box office numbers seem to be saying. I can no longer watch you play Ethan Hunt without hearing you yell at Matt Lauer on the Today Show. Your magic is gone. You no longer have me at hello.

May I suggest that you turn down the crazy knob for a while? If you can manage that, your antics of the past couple of years might begin to fade in my memory and I once again might be able to watch Top Gun without shaking my head at what once was. Take my advice, Tom. Your daughter does not want you to be remembered as the "crazy annoying actor."

Sincerely yours,
Jeanne

See Ya Later, Green Machine!

I am getting a "new" car! New to me, anyway. My Green Machine is on its last leg - it leaks oil like there's no tomorrow and it gets about 11 miles to the gallon. I might as well be driving some stinkin' SUV.

Anyway, here is another reason why I just love my Dad. He is the person who found said car. It is a 1999 Ford Taurus SE. White. Not a spot of rust, and it doesn't leak a thing. My dad was all worried about buying a car that I haven't seen. Wondering if it would be pretty enough. I told him that as long as it didn't LEAK ANY FLUID that I was a happy camper. Until today the car was a company car for some business that my dad does business with, or something...My dad is going to drive it for a few weeks, fix any bugs, and then drive it out to me at the end of May. Life does not get much better, folks. Above is a picture of what my car will look like - try not to be too jealous.

I love my dad.

I love my dad. I love him because he's just awesome. Anyone who knows him can attest to this fact- I swear I am not biased.
I love him because even though I am going to be 25 this year, he still takes care of me.
I love him because he is the most generous person I have ever known.
I love him because he has been to every performance I have ever been in. Most of them twice.
I love him because he taught me to dream big.
I love him because he made me stay in Arizona that one summer, and it turned out to be one the best learning experiences to date.
I love him because when I called him frustrated and crying over my apartment he told me we would work it out.
I love him because I can call him and tell him the sound my car is making and he instantly can tell me what is wrong.
I love him because he has given up many hours to work on my friend's cars.
I love him because he loves a good party.
I love him because he is usually the life of the party.
I love him because spending time with me has always been important to me.
I love him because he loves me for me, not what he thinks I should be.
I love him because he sees what I can be.
I love him because he's my dad.

Captain Planet - He's our hero

Anyone remember the cartoon Captain Planet? My sister Heather loved that show, and so it was on regularly in our house. I can still sing the theme song: "Captain Planet, he's our hero. Gonna cut pollution down to zero." The premise of the show was that these kids had rings that had the power of Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, and so on...and when the world was in danger of some sort of pollution they would use their powers collectively to defeat the bad guys. With the exception of the catchy theme song the show really was pretty lame. Anyway, I was thinking about this TV show today because I got the results of a personality profile that I had to take for work - the Laurie Beth Jones Path Elements Profile. This profile classifies you as Earth, Water, Wind, or Fire - or some combination of those elements. My primary element is Earth.

I actually enjoy taking these personality/behavioral profiles. Perhaps it is narcissistic, but it is interesting to read about myself. The most fun is when the profile is really accurate. In this case, Laurie Beth Jones was spot on. Let me share a bit of what she had to say about me:

"Earth tends to do particularly well in accomplishing tasks and getting results. Motivation is based on a desire for an orderly process that leads to accuracy. Likes to stay focused in order to 'get it right.' An Earth's behavioral style reminds us of the traits of Earth: steady, predictable, foundational, solid, secure."

She had this to say on my view of authority:

"Earth respects authority because of its need for order and balance but will resist authority that demands ethical or legal compromise. Tends to know and live by rules, and enforces boundaries in its work and personal relationships." (Very true - I have always seen the world as black and white. Very few shades of grey.)

On stress:

"Earth can become stressed by disorder, chaos, and by concerns about the unknown. There is a strong need to have clear goals, order and time to plan and verify, while avoiding impulsive decisions and spontaneous actions. Tends not to discuss its worries but frets quietly. Becomes cold and distant when stressed." (ouch - horrible but true.)

I found the description of my relationships particularly interesting...

"Earth does not trust readily or easily but is capable of developing deep and lasting friendships. Builds quality realtionships over time, based on demonstrated integrity and mutual respect. Expects and gives loyalty." (A quick glance at those closest to me will reveal this particular aspect of my personality pretty much a direct hit.)

The actual profile was pages long. Those were just a couple of interesting exerpts. I believe that everyone can benefit from taking these personality/behavior profiles. First of all, they are just good old-fashioned fun. But more importantly, I think it can put into words aspects of our behavior that we may or may not have already identified, but perhaps couldn't quite put into words. It's like when you read a book and the character of the story says something that you just feel in your bones but have never been able to say eloquently. You have this "Aha!" moment as you read it thinking, "That is exactly what I have been trying to say for years." These profiles are moments of forced self-evaluation, which, every once in a while is a good thing.

Swing Sets and Park Benches

I found the park that is located near my apartment. It is actually much closer than I thought it was; about five minutes walking distance. It is quite charming, with one exception: there is a sewer treatment plant about three quarters of a mile North of the park, and if the wind is right it can be rather stinky. But nonetheless, my jaunt to the park was enjoyable. I have a feeling that I will retreat there often this summer. To the right is a picture of this little park.


Target is one of my favorite places to shop. Especially their home department. Much of their merchandise can be quite pricey if you pay full price. But, if you can wait until the end of the season when it goes on clearance you can make out like a bandit! I was wandering through Target one night last week, not really looking for anything inparticular, when I happened through the furniture section. Target furniture is very nice, but very expensive. However - not on this night! There was one entire isle filled with end tables that were 75% off! I bought four. Let me tell you, it was quite a coup. Here is an example of how my apartment has been enriched by these very nice end tables.

Above is a picture of my makeshift endtable in my bedroom before I went shopping at Target. Yes, that is indeed a cardboard moving box. Classy, I know. Below is a picture of my bedroom endtable after I went shopping at Target. Now we are talking high class!

Kudos to you, Target clearance!

Extra! Extra!

Some random happenings, for your reading pleasure:

*I had a dream the other night that I got a tattoo of Kermit the Frog. That's right...Kermit the Frog. Don't know why - I have never had a desire to get a tattoo, nor have I ever had a fixation with Kermit. During the entire dream I just kept thinking, "Why am I getting a tattoo? It's going to look bad when I get old." Weird.

*It is a BEAUTIFUL day here. I have heard that there is a nice little park somewhere close to my apartment. Later today I think I will venture out and try and locate said park. Some fresh air would do me good.

*I went to Applebee's for lunch today with a friend. There was a wait, so we sat down on the benches in the entrance area. Once we were seated I ran my hand through my hair only to discover that it was wet in the back. In fact, more than a little wet. "What the heck?! Why is my hair wet?" Turns out that the bench we were sitting on had a pitcher of water and tea just above it. It dripped down on me. GROSS. My lunch really should have been free. But I'm not really good at demanding those sort of things.

*Turns out that it is really difficult to get accepted into the FBI. They prefer people with previous law enforcement experience or military background. Guess that rules me out.

*The other morning before work I caught the end of a "Saved By the Bell: The College Years" episode. I was never a huge fan of that particular attempt to keep Zach Morris and the gang going, but it did get me to thinking about shows that I really miss. They include, but are not limited to: 1) Saved by the Bell 2) Family Matters 3) Fresh Prince of Belair 4) Full House 5) Tiny Toon Adventures. What shows of yesteryear do you miss?

*I'm planning a vacation to Hawaii this fall to visit my sister Krystina. Couldn't be more excited - can't wait for it to get here! Speed up your clock, Father Time!!

Broken.

I broke something really important to me last night. Two years ago when I finished my internship, someone very special gave me a gift. It was a beautiful glass butterfly. She told me she had chosen the butterfly because over the course of my internship I had transformed just like butterflies do.

I have moved four times since being given that gift. Each time I have gone to great lengths to make certain the butterfly made it in one piece. And I have been successful every move. My new apartment was going to be the place where the butterfly would finally be displayed properly. So last night I removed it from its box and carefully unwrapped it. I then dropped it on my kitchen floor and watched it break into about thirty pieces.

I'm sorry, Kelly.

Surprise! Another list:

Top ten careers I would have chosen if my current job didn't exist:

1. Publisher/Editor/Acquisitions Editor
2. Naval Officer
3. Scientist (if no math was involved and I could do cool experiments all day long)
4. Music teacher
5. Marine Biologist
6. Lawyer
7. Event Planner (just like J Lo in the Wedding Planner...)
8. Band Manager
9. Photographer
10. Independently wealthy world-traveler (What?! You know it would be on your list.)

More lists...

Here are a list of my top favorite movies - again in no particular order.

1. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
2. The Goonies
3. Newsies
4. National Treasure
5. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
6. The Cutting Edge
7. The Indiana Jones Trilogy
8. Sweet Home Alabama
9. The Interpreter
10. Ocean's Eleven
11. Emma
12. Sense and Sensibility

Things I love

Here is a small list of things I just really enjoy, in no particular order:

1. Chocolate Chip Mint Ice Cream
2. The smell of a turkey in the oven
3. Avalon
4. The TV show Friends (I know...I'm a total pagan. But they are so funny)
5. Swimming
6. 78 degree weather
7. Going on vacation when I don't have to pay or drive
8. Reading
9. Laughing
10. Taking Pictures (which we have already established I don't do enough of)

A study in awesomeness

One of the many benefits of my job is that I get to work with amazing people on a daily basis. This is a picture of my vocal team that I took at one of our Easter rehearsals last week. I could go on and on....but suffice it to say that they are awesome. It's my priviledge to minister with them.

The bottom of the barrel.

Ever get to that point where you feel as though you are scraping the bottom of the energy reserves barrel to make it through the day? That's me right now. I'm simply exhausted. Not physically - although my body is tired as a result of the last few weeks of physical labor. But I am just drained mentally and emotionally. It's the kind of tired that reaches it's tentacles down into your soul and latches on. The kind of tired that doesn't happen in a day, or a week, or probably even a month. The kind of tired that sneaks up on you in the still moments of your day and takes your breathe away. The kind of tired that doesn't retreat with a few hours, or even a few days off. The kind of tired that robs your soul of joy. I always know this kind of tired has gripped me when everything makes me cry (or makes me want to cry), and I want to yell at anyone and everyone for being stupid. I am a calm, rational person by nature - not really given to fits of crying and yelling - so this frame of mind is always especially upsetting to me.

It is Easter week. Holy Week. I am desperately trying to not let the Enemy steal my joy in the midst of it. I have worked too long and too hard to cruise through this week exhausted and frustrated with people. This week is the culmination of hours upon hours of planning, constructing, rehearsing...Not only by me but by other staff and an army of volunteers. It's a celebration. And Celebrations are joyful - not frustrating. I will choose joy. I will choose to honor God by faithfully executing the tasks He has set before me. (Hopefully without the crying and yelling. Even crying or yelling in my head.)

And God is good. I am right in the middle of a 45 minute break - so I came home to change and check my mail. In my mailbox was a card from my sister in Hawaii. It was what I needed to give my soul a little boost, and my heart enough energy to keep at it through tonight. Krystina didn't know how desperately I needed her words this afternoon...but God did.

I will choose joy.

Why, Katie? Why!!

The Today Show is part of morning ritual. And for as long as I have been watching it has been "Katie, Matt, Al and Ann."

The way I see it, Katie has a pretty sweet gig going. Or at least she did before she decided to turn down twenty million dollars to host the CBS evening news. No one watches CBS. Everyone knows that NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams is where it's at. Big mistake, Katie. Big mistake.

Here's the other mistake: Messing with my morning routine! How I am expected to adjust to seeing Merideth what's her face instead of Katie Couric every morning before work? This is simply more change than I can deal with. Bad form, Katie. Bad form.

More, I say more!

I need to take more pictures. I was looking through my albums tonight and realized that it is has been a long time since I have taken a photo of anything. In fact, the last picture I took was of Krystina's wedding - And that was January 1st. I know I have done things worth taking pictures of. And I have often thought, "I should bring my camera and take some pictures." But the thought never materializes into action. My life is slipping by and I have no photos of it! Crisis! Quick, someone take a picture of this moment...

Say what now?

As if you needed a reason not be a nudist...

SYDNEY - A red-faced Australian nudist who tried to set fire to what he thought was a deadly funnel web spider's nest ended up with badly burned buttocks, emergency officials said on Monday.
The 56-year-old man was at a nudist colony near Bowral, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of Sydney, on Sunday when he spotted what he believed to be a funnel web spider hole.
Ambulance workers, including a helicopter crew, were called to the scene after the man poured gasoline down the hole and then lit a match in an attempt to kill the offending arachnid.
"The exploding petrol fumes left the man with burns to 18 percent of his body, on the upper leg and buttocks," the NRMA Careflight helicopter rescue service said in a statement.
It said the man's lack of clothing probably contributed to the extent of his burns.
"The fate of the bunkered spider was unknown, although other guests at the resort thought it was probably a harmless trapdoor spider and not a deadly funnel web," the statement said.
NRMA Careflight said it was called to a property in the same area in January when another man kicked a spider that was crawling up the wall of a friend's cabin. The man broke his leg in two places, it said.

Note to self: Never pour gasoline down a hole and then light it on fire while naked.

Choices. My heart is heavy today. My heart is heavy over relationships broken, hurting people who hurt other people, choices made. My heart is heavy over problems I can't solve, ends I can't see, situations I can't fix, choices that are not mine to make. My heart is just heavy. It's why it is midnight and I am still awake. It's why I am not even close to slumber.
I started reading Philippians - a book full of joy. Paul says in chapter three, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Later in that same chapter Paul goes on to talk about the reality that there are those who live as enemies of the cross. They live to get satisfaction now - their minds are on earthly things. But my citizenship is in Heaven. And I wait for the day when Jesus, who has everything under control, will transform me to look like Him.
This started me thinking about faith, and how little I seem to have today. I flipped to Hebrews 11 and started reading about those who have gone before me. Those who have probably had days when their hearts felt heavy. Abraham, Noah, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Rahab. The list goes on. Then, in the beginning verses of chapter 12 the writer has this to say: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
The writer doesn't say sprint to the end of the race. He says run with perseverance. The word perseverance appears 13 times in the New Testament - and it is the same Greek word every time. The definition includes words like "patience," "endurance," "persistence" and "standing firm." Sigh. I don't feel great at any of those things today. But at least I don't have to sprint.
My heart still feels heavy. But that's ok. I trust there is a purpose. Besides - by design every race has an end, even if I can't see it. And there is hope in that.

Seriously, what?

Here are some random moments from my life as of late:

I finally got internet and cable at my apartment. But I want to go on the record as saying that I believe it is completely irrational that the cable company has this notion that people have huge chunks of time to sit around the house and wait for them to show up. Frustrating does even begin to describe that whole process. I'm sure most of you can relate.

We have the majority of our Easter set constructed. It is actually deceptively simple. A black scrim with a raised 12x24 platform behind it. Easter is going to rock this year. I helped Dave hang the scrim - and it was actually a lot of fun. It was something out of my normal routine; and I got to climb up on some scaffolding. At one point, I was up at the top and Dave was handing up a plank/platform thing. I was kneeling on another platform trying to hold onto the plank while he climbed up to help - He tried to convince me it would be easier if I stood up. I looked down (big mistake) and decided that I was just fine where I was! We did, however, get everything done and I escaped relatively unscathed. (I am sporting a few bruises caused by the actual construction of the scaffolding.)

Life is flying by at the speed of light. I can hardly believe that it is April. A year ago today I was in China. It really doesn't seem possible - and yet it is. Before I know it summer will be here. (Although with the weather we have been experiencing lately I kind of wonder if summer will ever come.)

I bought a classic movie from my childhood: "The Cutting Edge." There is something about that movie that never gets old for me. Like a child, if I like a movie enough I can watch it numerous times in succession and not tire of it (A recent example would be Pride and Prejudice. I probably watched it 9 times before I lent it out). I'm the same with books. If I read it, and liked it, I'll probably read it again soon. That is one reason I never feel guilty about purchasing movies or books. I only buy the ones I like, and I don't own a movie or book that I have watched or read more than once.

I love my new apartment. I'll try and remember to post some pictures soon.

That's right...

Still no internet at home - But that is another story. I'm at work, and Easter is a comin' so there is still much to do. Today we are putting up some of the Easter set - But that too, is another story.

I really just wanted to say that I work with some of the most incredible people I've ever met. Last night our Tech Director Dave, and one of our Drummers were trying to teach me how to play drums. Folks, it's harder than it looks. I have new respect for our percussionists.

It was fun, but suffice it to say that I'll leave the drummin' to them.

whooppee

So I'm in my new digs (Our Arts Department staff has decided to revive the word "digs" as popular.). It's awesome. But I don't have internet until Saturday. I'll post some pictures this weekend so you all can see it and be insanely jealous.

movie review

If you know me at all you know that I am just wild about the work of Jane Austen, most notably Pride and Prejudice. It is one of my favorite stories for good reason: it is a timeless classic. This statement is validated by the fact that it has been made and remade in Hollywood for decades. The most recent film version of Pride and Prejudice came out last Thanksgiving, and on DVD this last Tuesday. I can't let the moment go by without adding my two cents.

In my opinion, the movie was well made and well worth watching. Although not as true to the novel as the A&E version with Colin Firth, this version was satisfying for entirely different reasons. I admit, that the first time I saw the movie in November I was sorely disappointed. I thought it had strayed too far from the novel, and I didn't care for the way some of the characters were portrayed (Mainly Elizabeth and Mrs. Bennet). However, that initial disappointment did not stop me from purchasing the DVD this week. I have since watched twice more; my opinion has changed.

It would have been ridiculous for a film maker to try and duplicate the A&E version. That film has already been made and we don't need a replicate. In this version, many of the scenes in the book are set in different locations andmuch is omitted (for time's sake I am sure...the A&E version is nearly four hours long). But here is why I have decided I like it: There is much more emotion in this version than in previous versions I have seen. This film does a remarkable job of highlighting the underlying romantic tension between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. In almost every instance, this is achieved through facial expression and subtle body movement. One of my favorite moments in the movie occurs when Mr. Darcy helps Elizabeth into her carriage upon her leaving Netherfield Park. It is early in the film - Elizabeth has gone to Netherfield Park to take care of Jane who had fallen ill. They are finally leaving, and Mr. Darcy takes Elizabeth's hand to help her into the carriage. Eliabeth is struck by the small contact (it is evident in her face) and Mr. Darcy retreats back into the house flexing his hand. It is small moments like that one that pepper this film and make it different than any other version of Pride and Prejudice that I have seen.

One of the reviews on the back of the DVD jacket calls the movie, "Lushly romantic and subtly sexy." I have to agree. If you like Jane Austen, this movie would not be a waste of your time.

gobble gobble

Today was my day off. I think I am going to switch to having Monday's off...but that is beside the point. My day off is traditionally the day that I will go grocery shopping. Today was no exception. I was wandering through the food section at Wal-Mart and thought to myself, "I think I want to make a turkey." So I bought one. Here was my thought process: I actually really don't like to cook. Many people will read this as an inability to cook. I can proudly say that is not the case with me. I am actually a very good cook...I just don't like to do it. But I thought that if I made a turkey (and hence making a lot of food at one time) I would have leftovers that I could eat for a week or so. Hence, less cooking. It made perfect sense in my head.

So I get home and realize that I need to thaw the turkey (We'll call him Fred). Fred is really, really frozen. So I proceed to thaw him in my sink. I started to thaw him at 2pm. I now realize that I am not going to get to eat Fred until late at night. But that is ok with me. So I press on. I then realize that I do not own a roasting pan, or a turkey baster. Drat. Luckily I am a resourceful little person....and Fred is only 9 pounds. I decide I can cook him in a 13X9 cake pan. I read the instructions on Fred's package and it tells me that he is a self-basting bird. Phew - I don't need to go buy a baster. Uh oh - I continue to read the directions and realize I do not own a meat thermometer. I actually thought of this while I was in Wal-Mart, but I got distracted and forgot to purchase one. No worries, I decide. The package gave approximate cooking lengths....I'll just go by that.

Fred takes a full three and half hours to thaw. By the time he actually gets stuff (yes, I made stuffing too) and into the oven it is 5:30. I cover him loosely with tin foil and begin to wait. I really love the smell of turkey in the oven. It brings up all sorts of memories of Thanksgiving with Dad. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Maybe that is why I love turkey. But I digress.

Finally, at 9:00 pm Fred is ready to come out of the oven. He smells delicious. Unfortunately, I am no longer hungry as I have been eating granola bars and oranges all day. So I take him out of the oven and let him cool. Since there is no room in my fridge for an entire turkey, I decide to carve him up all at once and put him on a plate. Easier said than done. Poor Fred ended up getting torn apart more than he got carved. But he made it onto the plate and into the fridge. I did sample some of him, and he is mighty tastey if I do say so myself. I think he will make a nice sandwhich tomorrow.

Mintucky

Our business Administrator sometimes will lovingly refer to the area we live in as "Mintucky." There are several humorous, and several not so humorous reasons for this. The most recent was when I went to our local Bible book store to pick up a music book that I had ordered a week prior. The conversation went a little something like this:
Me: Hello, I'm here to pick up a music book I ordered last week.
Them: Ok, what's your name.
Me: Jeanne Hyde. That's H Y D E.
Them: (lots of typing and staring at a screen) Hmm...we don't seem to have any order under that name.
Me: Ok, well it might be under Carson Valley Christian Center.
Them: (lots more typing and staring at a screen) Hmm....is it an order of erasers?
Me: Um, no. It is a music book.
Them: Hmm...we don't seem to have any record of that order. Who did you speak to?
Me: I don't know what their name was. It was an older gentleman.
Them: Well it appears as though he never processed the order.
Me: Really. How interesting.
Them: When did you need this book?
Me: Tomorrow.
Them: Yeah, we can't have it in by tomorrow. Would you like us to order it again?
Me: No thank you. (That was what I said out loud. What I wanted to actually tell them was exactly what I thought of their one horse operation. None of it positive.)

I then proceed to leave, call every book store within a 50 mile radius - but all in vain. I ended up ordering the book from amazon.com and paying more in shipping than I paid for the book. Personally, I think I should have billed the Bible bookstore for my shipping costs.

And that folks, is why somedays it feels as though I live in Mintucky.

By the way...only 17 more days.

The Countdown Continues

18 Days.

I have started the "pre-packing purge." So far, I have gotten rid of 4 bags of clothes, and carted out 3 garbage bags of junk to the dumpster in my parking lot. Honestly, I really enjoy the whole purging process. There is just something liberating about letting go of stuff. You should try it.

Movin' On Up!

19 Days and counting. 19 days until what do you ask? So glad you asked. 19 days until I move out of my miserable 1960's apartment in the ghetto of Carson City to a BRAND NEW, georgeous, GATED complex in Minden, NV. There is no downside to me moving. Absolutely none. My commute will now go from twenty minutes each way to four minutes each way. I will now have a garage...no longer will some inconsiderate jerk be able to steal my assigned parking space. I now have a washer and a dryer in my apartment. No more ghetto laundry mats for me.

The apartment is also two bedroom. But there is only of you, you say. That's true. I also have two full bathrooms. So any of you want to come visit, you get your own room and your own bathroom. Only the best for my guests.

Did I mention this is a brand new complex? That's right. Brand new. I will be the first tenant to occupy my apartment. No dealing with someone's left-over dirt. How nice is that. Pretty nice, I tell ya.

And the apartment is beautiful. When I walked through the door on Saturday to look at it, I almost cried it was so elegant and beautiful.

Seriously, can't wait to move.

Run, Run, Run, Run...a Do Run, Run

Running is now my sport of choice. I have several reasons - and admittedly most of them are psychological. If I had enough room in my apartment I would buy a treadmill. But, unfortunately there is abosolutely nowhere for it to go. It's most unfortunate. So, I'm hitting the pavement.

I'm excited about my new endeavor for many reasons. We'll see how it plays out.

All a Matter of Perspective

I never used to turn my cell phone off. I didn't always answer it, but I never turned it off. I would think, what if someone needs to get a hold of me? They won't be able to if I turn my phone off. I have a slightly different perspective these days. I love turning my phone off. It is freeing. It is glorious. It is wonderful. I finally realized that I do not need to be available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Go ahead. Turn your phone off. You won't regret it.

To Change or not to Change...

"Jeanne, you hate change. You fight it with every fiber of your being." Someone said that to me on Wednesday. And while it may have been a bit overstated, he wasn't entirely wrong. I hate change that doesn't make sense, or change that I don't like, or change that hurts.

There has been a lot of change in my little life recently. I have accepted a new position at the church I work at: I am now the Music Director (before I was the Celebration Arts Assistant). New title. New boss. New responsibilities.

It has been a long road filled with the sorts of change that I apparently work so hard to avoid. But I am finally here. And I am glad.

Better than the original

There are certain products that according to society (I don't know who in society...just people) you are supposed to like the original, not the imitation. And there are some products which this statement would be in line with. For example, never eat imitation cheese. I had to find this out the hard way. Summer of 2002 Corri Burns and I were driving back to IL from spending the summer in the Grand Canyon. In order to save money, we bought a bunch of food to make sandwiches and other stuff on the two day drive back home. Cheese can be kind of expensive - so we bought the cheap cheese. We didn't look at the label carefully enough. I think we were somewhere in New Mexico when we stopped to have lunch at a rest stop. We make our sandwiches and start to eat. Only something was terribly wrong...The cheese was by far the worst thing that we had ever put in our mouths. We take a closer look at the label and find out that it reads "imitation cheese." Not sure exactly what it was made of...but I do know that we left it at the rest stop and ate the rest of our sandwiches without cheese (or imitation cheese as the case may be.)
However, there are certain food products where I think the imitation is better than the original. I have two examples: 1) Cranberry sauce. I like the jellied cranberry sauce that comes out of a can. I think that real cranberry sauce is gross. Give me the molded jelly any day. 2) Maple Syrup. I do not like real Vermont Maple Syrup. I just don't. Never have. Which I know, being from that state, makes me a heretic. But I would much rather have the Walmart Great Value maple syrup that contains only 2% real maple syrup and the rest is imitation whatever.
Can you think of any other cases in which the imitation is better than the original?

The great unfinished...

I don't know how many posts I have started and then deleted over the past week or so. None of them have been worthy of publishing. Either they are too heavy, too trite, or just not what I have wanted to say. Words have not been my friends lately. The right ones escape me, and I am left with half finished sentences and incomplete thoughts.

I have two meetings tomorrow that are of the utmost importance. I can only pray that my battle with words will, at the very least, settle down for those few hours. Maybe in my sleep tonight I can negotiate a cease-fire with my vocabulary...

Wedding Pics

Brides do not get much more beautiful than this.

Resistance Shattered

I have been resisting watching the movie "The Notebook" since it was in theaters. I knew that it would be a good movie. But I knew it would be sad and I also knew that I would probably cry. And I just haven't felt like crying.

But I watched it tonight. And I was right. It was good, it was sad, and I did cry. But I suppose I am glad I finally relented.

Think Global

God is a global God. I know that I fall into the trap of thinking that God is in a box. As if He doesn't exist, or doesn't work outside my scope of influence. But God is global. He could use me here; He could use me somewhere else. God is global.

I confess that I am guilty of holding on tightly to WHERE I minister. But God is global. I wonder sometimes, that if God did call me to leave this place....would I have the courage to say yes? God is global...

Beauty

She was so beautiful. And so happy. I can't remember the last time I saw her this happy. It was worth it. All of it. I've been trying unsuccessfully to post some pictures. Hopefully it will work soon.

A Myriad Life

My sister is getting married. Sunday. No, not Heather...Krystina. So much to say about that. But in order to write about it I would have to think about it. And I don't want to think about it right now.

I have read two statements in the past week that I have really identified with:

1. "I don't doubt God. I doubt myself." I don't doubt that God has a plan; I don't doubt that He will use my circumstances (good or bad) to accomplish His plan. I do sometimes doubt my ability to catch God's vision. Some days I doubt I have the strength and fortitude to carry what He has asked of me. I don't doubt God. I doubt myself.

2. "I am tired of living in a constant state of transition." That about sums it up.

Overall, I had a good holiday. Work was a madhouse - but I fully expected that. It was nice to see my Dad. We all stayed together at Heather and Mike's house in Dayton. It was nice to get out of my apartment for a few days. I slept on the pull out bed with Heather, her Yorkie Jake, and her dachshund Daisy (quite possibly the cutest dogs ever). They like to sleep under the covers and right up next to you. Friday night they both slept right on top of me. Not all that comfortable...but they are so cute that I didn't have the heart to move them. On Christmas Day Dad cooked a huge turkey dinner with all the trimmings. It was delicious. I ate way too much. But I am pretty sure that is standard protocol during the holidays.

I am anticipating that January is going to be a good month. Three of my favorite authors have books due out and Avalon's new CD "Stand" is due to be released. I received a gift card to Borders for Christmas, but I am saving it so I can purchase these things. If I can wait that long it is...we'll see how that goes.

If 2006 goes as quickly as 2005 did, I am going to need some sort of life-seatbelt. Do they make those? I should patent one. I could make a bundle...

Extravagant Love

God has been trying to teach me something that until today I have been too dense to recognize. The last few months have been a very difficult season - difficult personally and professionally. I believe that God has a myriad of lessons for me to learn from my present circumstances. But today I feel like one sunk in. It was as if I heard Him say to me, "Child, my love is extravagant." In the past two days I have received 2 very unexpected, very expensive gifts. Both were huge blessings. Both were extravagant. Both were hard for me to receive.

But this afternoon as I was sitting in the soundbooth, crying over what I had just been given, I heard- or rather felt it..."Child, my love is extravagant." I don't think that these people gave me these gifts to teach me that God's love is extravagant. They gave them to me because they love me. But I also know that God is not a God who wastes opportunities. He used the earthly extravagant love I had just been a part of to teach me something of Himself. His love is extravagant. Amazing.

Confessions

I must confess that I absolutely love Gary Sinise. It is the main reason I watch CSI: NY, and it is the reason I recently watched a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie that he starred in. The movie was pretty dull. Gary Sinise was not.

I'm not sure why I love watching him so much. It isn't like he is as attractive as other actors, or has starred in as many blockbuster films. But perhaps that is why I like him so much. That, and he just looks like he is a nice guy. He gives off this vibe that says, "I'm someone's champion." I hope to never find out that he is a jerk.

Home for the Holidays

I just got back from my trip to IL for Thanksgiving. Too many wonderful things to recount in just one post. In light of that fact, I will simply start with my actual travels back to Carson City. For starters, I am/was severely sleep deprived. A very dear friend that I haven't seen in years came over late Saturday night and stayed until almost 4am. Since I had to leave for the airport at 4:30am, I never actually went to bed. Even though I would not trade this time I had with him, I still do not recommend not sleeping the night before you travel. Unpleasant doesn't even begin to describe the experience. But, I am getting ahead of myself.

My Dad and I arrive at the airport at 4:50 am. Plenty of time to check in and make my 6:15 flight. However, when I checked in at the ticket counter they were searching for volunteers to switch flights because they were having a "weight-overage problem" with the little plane I was supposed to take to Minneapolis. I didn't care how I got home to Reno, so I volunteered to change flights. This took a very long time for them to arrange. Then I got sent to another ticket counter because I was now flying American, not Northwest. Then the guy at the American counter was very rude to me. Next, I was singled out to have both of my checked bags individually searched. For some reason, I had to stand there and watch them do it and wasn't allowed through security until they had finished. This was a problem because my new flight left at 5:55. They began searching my bags at 5:30. I was starting to get a little panicked. Unfortunately, when I get panicked I get very crabby (and let's also keep in mind that I hadn't slept at all that night. So I was also very very tired.) So my poor Dad ended up being at the receiving end of my tirade...which is too bad because he was only trying to help me.

So they finally decide that I am not carrying a bomb in my suitcase and I am allowed to leave and go through security. I say goodbye to Dad and hand my boarding pass and Driver's License to the person checking ID's. She takes both and says "follow me." Immediately I know this can't be something good. Lucky for me I had been selected to be hand searched. At this time I really just want to burst into tears (that happens when I am really tired and stressed).

The story does end happily. I made my flight and my connection in Chicago and am now sitting in my bedroom debating whether a nap would be a wise decision or not. I'm still not sure.

Good to be home.

Viva la Bayside

What a weekend. Not only did I get to ride in the Chrysler Pacifica, but I got to spend the weekend in California and see Lincoln Brewster. Sadly, I did not get to meet him. But I was very, very close.

Saturday was spent in Roseville doing the whole shopping thing. Lots of fun even though I didn't really buy anything. Good for my wallet I suppose. On Sunday Tina, Sunny and I visited Bayside Church in Granite Bay, CA. Huge church...Lincoln Brewster is their worship pastor. Here are some things we took away from the experience.

1. We are not that far behind! The main difference between their service and ours? They have way more money for cool toys.
2. We really appreciated their campus. Beautiful would not really be an adequate word. Clean lines, tasteful landscaping, pleasing colors, and oh yeah....plasma televisions in the lobby. Nice. Very nice.
3. I was surprised their auditorium was an all-purpose room. Gym floor, pull out bleachers. They run sound from downstairs in the back of the room....their whole console is on a movable platform that can be rolled to and fro. I think I was expecting more of the Willow model...fixed seating, more lights, bigger room. But this works for them. Again, very cool.
4. I love the sense of community that Bayside obviously works hard to create. The walls in the Auditorium were covered with larger than life photos of "Baysiders" and Bayside events. A very neat move to make the large church, well...seemingly not so large.
5. Everyone I met on their staff was very gracious. Very willing to help, willing to speak with me and answer my questions. Way cool.
6. Seeing Lincoln Brewster live was a definite highlight to the weekend. His band was absolutely killer! It was honestly like listening to a CD. I also appreciated that Lincoln did other people's music as well as his own. It was a four song set, and only two of the songs were his. Of the other two one was a Paul Baloche tune and the other was a Israel Houghton song. It was a great set! Darrel has told me that you have to teach your congregation how to worship. It is so cool to see it in practice. Even though the over-arching principles of worship are the same from church to church...the way in which in happens is different. I was interested to see how Lincoln has taught his Baysiders to worship. It was so neat to watch their mannerisms, their expressions, when they clapped, when they raised their hands, how they responded to where Lincoln was leading them. What a awesome God we serve!

The weekend was a total success. Let's do it again, girls!

Broken

My computer at home has died. Blogging must be suspended until I remedy the situation.

Malcom...err....Jeanne in the Middle

I am caught between two worlds. I am trapped between adolescence and adulthood. I certainly don't feel like a kid anymore...and yet very rarely do I feel like an adult. For lack of a better term we will call this period of life "adoleshood." If you are anywhere close to my age I believe you will be able to identify with this phase of life. Not sure if you fit into this category? If you answer yes to one or more of the following statements you are currently caught in adoleshood.

1. When making decisions at work you catch yourself thinking, "Am I really qualified to do this?"
2. You are now expected to understand and be able to decipher things like insurance, medical billing, and cell phone contracts. However, if someone actually asked you to explain any of those you would say, "I don't know. Hold on and I'll call my dad."
3. Even though it has only been between 5 and 7 years since you graduated from high school, it feels more like 15 or 20 years.
4. You realize that you are closer to 30 than you are to 20, and it makes you feel really old (even though the rational part of your brain tells you that you are still young).
5. Phone calls with your parents are frustrating because they sometimes tend to treat you like you are still 16. You must remind them that you are a twenty-something career woman who pays all her own bills and successfully makes life-decisions.
6. Phone calls with your parents are frustrating because they tend to treat you like you are a twenty-something career woman who should know how to pay her own bills and should be capable of making successful life-decisions.
7. You look around at people your age with marriages and kids and think, "What are they doing? We're not old enough to be married with kids."
8. You realize that you are a twenty-something with no marriage and no kids.
9. It only recently occurred to you that you are allowed to schedule and take trips anywhere you desire to go without first consulting someone.
10. You are sad and relieved at the same time about the reality that you no longer receive a "student discount."

Anyone relate? Yeah...I thought so.

Ah, almost a quarter century...

Yesterday I turned 24. As my sister Krystina kindly pointed out, I am almost a quarter of century old. In honor of that fact, I have decided to make a list of things that I want to do/accomplish before I turn 25. It seems appropriate.

1. Go to Las Vegas and see the fountains at the Bellagio.
2. Have at least 3,000 dollars in my savings account.
3. See at least one really good concert
4. See at least one really good musical
5. Read throught the Bible in it's entirety
6. Learn to drive a stick shift well
7. Being work on my Master's
8. At least begin writing a novel
9. Write a song
10. Study and come to a good understanding of the term "Sacrifice of Praise"
11. Learn to play the guitar well

I have 364 days. I better get busy.

Untitled

Away Despair! My Gracious Lord doth hear:
Though winds and waves assault my keel,
He doth preserve it: he doth steer,
Ev'n when the boat seems most to reel:
Storms are the triumph of his art:
Well may he close his eyes, but not his heart.

Creepy

The offices of CVC are a bee graveyard. Creepy is the only appropriate word to describe it. When you walk up to the front door of the office, the sidewalk and front stoop are littered with dead bees. For some unknown (and pretty strange) reason bees get to the front door of the building and just die. They drop dead. They buzz their last. I can't figure out why...You have any ideas?

Nerd Alert

I had a gigantic nerd moment today. I was in my Creative Arts Team meeting, and we were discussing the age demographics of Northern Nevada. The Reader's Digest version of the conversation is that there are not many people in my age demographic in the area because the cost of living is extrememly high. There are however, a lot of wealthy retirees that seem to have 400,000 dollars to drop on a home. But I digresss...Anyway, John (senior pastor) asks me if he thinks my sister Heather will stay in the area. We are just trying to get a handle on where the future of the valley is. He then asks me why I am living in this area and how long I plan to stay there. It is at this point that everyone in the room stops and stares at me. (and just to give you a mental picture, everyone else in the room is male and over forty). My answer: God called me here and I know this is where I belong. Now, don't get me wrong. I believe that with all my heart. It just felt like such an awful cliche coming out of my mouth. There are lots of reasons that I believe I belong here. All of them having to do with the fact I am called here by God. At that awful moment I simply couldn't articulate one of them. And I felt like an idiot in front of three men that I really admire. Not my best moment.

Long Live Mr. Darcy

Jane Austen has to be one of my favorite authors of all time. And outside of my roommate, who just happens to be an English teacher and general literary buff, I think I might be one of her biggest fans. And while I love all of her works, my favorite is a no-brainier: Pride and Prejudice. Here are a few of my favorite scenes, and some of my favorite dialogue. (If you haven't read Pride and Prejudice, I'll warn you that I'm probably going to reveal the ending.)

* I couldn't talk about Pride and Prejudice and not talk about Austen's opening line: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." She masterfully sets the tone of the entire novel with this now-famous line. Even those who have never read this novel can usually identify this opening sentence.

* Chapter 11 - Where Mr. Darcy proposes for the first time: "After a silence of several minutes he came towards her in an agitated manner, and thus began, "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." "Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement, and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her, immediately followed. He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority--of its being a degradation--of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit."
Hmm...No wonder she refused him.

* The scene towards the end of the novel in which Lady Catherine, Mr. Darcy's Aunt, comes to Hartfordshire to visit Elizabeth. She has heard rumors that Elizabeth and her nephew are engaged. Her mission is to dispel those rumors.
"You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart, your won conscience must tell you why I come."
Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment.
"Indeed you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account for the hounour of seeing you here."
"Miss Bennet, " replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, "you ought to know, that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so...A report of a most alarming nature, reached me two days ago. I was told, that not only your sister was on the point of being most adventageously married, bu that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I knew it must be a scandalous falsehood; though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you."
Elizabeth goes on to neither confirm nor deny the validity of the rumor. She doesn't want to give his aunt the satisfaction.

*The last scene I will mention is between Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy has just asked for her hand, and Mr. Bennet calls Elizabeth into his office to speak to her.
Her father was walking about the room, looking grave and anxious. "Lizzy," said he, "what are you doing? Are you out of your senses, to be accepting this man? Have not you always hated him?"
How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, her expressions more moderate! It would have spared her from explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give; but they were now necessary, and she assured him with some confusion, of her attachment to Mr. Darcy.

Ah, what a novel.

Chicago Christmas

Should you be in the Carson Valley area on December 17th and 18th I urge you to come and check out what will be happening at CVC. That weekend will be our 3rd annual "Chicago Christmas Weekend." The group Chicago has a fantastic Christmas album (I recommend it to all two of you who read this) that we will 6 or 7 songs from. And this year I get to play for it!! Whoo Hooo! In fact, in honor of the fact that I get actually play for something I am planning on purchasing a Tenor and a Soprano saxophone. In my opinion, an instrument is never a waste of money.

I tell ya what...nothing like having to play in front of your boss (who just happens to be a stellar musician) to make me start practicing again. Hope the neighbors don't mind...

Movin' On Up

I am moving up in the technology world. I am now the proud owner of a Personal Digital Assistant. I am hoping that it is going to make my job as Celebration Arts Assistant more stream-lined and efficient. I have actually gotten to use it yet...It has to charge for three hours before I can get started. But boy oh boy does it look sleek and sophisticated charging next to my computer. Let the learning curve commence!

Tahoe Fun

This is a picture of me with my 7th grade class up in Lake Tahoe in May. It was their end of the year trip. The water was freezing, and it wasn't exactly a heat wave but those crazy children still got in the water.

Why post this picture now, almost four months later? I miss my kids. I have had several people ask me recently if I miss teaching. My standard reply, "Not really, but I miss my students."

I miss you, guys.

mmmm Turkey

So I know that Thanksgiving is just shy of three months away...but I can't wait for it to get here. Not only do I get to spend the holiday with people I hardly ever get to see, but I get to eat Thanksgiving food!

Although I love the Christmas season as a whole, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. You don't need to buy gifts, and you get to spend the day eating yummy food and hanging out with friends and family. Even though I don't enjoy the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as much as I used to, I still love having it on and listening to it in the background. Thanksgiving just feels different. Probably because when I wake up Dad usually already has the Turkey in the oven and the smell drifts up to my bedroom. I love that smell.

I can't wait for Thanksgiving. I just know that this year is going to be extra special.

Adventures in Babysitting

All week I have been taking care of two girls: Olivia, a 6th grader and Leanna, a 3rd grader. Their parents are in New York, so I'm staying at their house too look after the girls. We've had a good time...Here are a few of the highlights:
* The girls go to bed at 9pm. Tonight, just a couple of minutes after she had been in bed Leanna comes out and says, "Jeanne, there is a big bug in my bed." Oh boy. Unfortunately the role of babysitter is by default, also the role of bug killer. So I go into her room to find a cricket wandering around her bed. I don't really want to touch it...but I had to get it out of her room. Unfortunately for me the stupid bug jumps off her bed into the area between her bed and nightstand. There was no way Leanna was going to be able to sleep until I found the bug and disposed of it. Just getting the bug off her bed was not comfort enough. And understandably so. So I ended up having to move her entire bed and crawling around on the floor in search of this blasted bug. But miracles of all miracles! I found it and threw it outside. Victory is mine! And cute little Leanna can sleep in peace.

*I have to help Leanna with her hair in the mornings. She takes a bath at night, and when she wakes up her hair can be pretty wild. I have never had to help anyone else with their hair before, let alone a little girl. But bless her heart, she has been patient and understanding. I had to try and curl her bangs yesterday, but it wasn't exactly going well. I was terrified I was going to burn her with the curling iron, all the while trying to make her bangs curl under instead of sticking straight up. In the end they looked suitable...but she gave me one of those looks that said, "Mom is way better at this, but I am too nice and polite to say anything." It was actually pretty funny. She is so cute!

Many other stories...but I am tired. Time for some sleep.

Help Has Arrived

Enjoy your new template.

<3 the blog fairy

Sad, Sad Efforts

How hard could HTML really be? Those were my famous last words. As evidenced by my very sad sidebar, HTML is obviously smarter than I am. I managed to get one link to work. But one link only. Everything else was lost in cyber space. I can see I am just going to have to have someone fix it for me. Help.

Star gazing

Last night I saw the most unbelievable shooting star. The night was especially dark, and as the star shot across the sky it left in its wake a wide and dazzling tail. It was beautiful. I was speechless.

It left an ache in me though. I live right in town; and the street lights, stoplights, casino lights, car lights, and cop car lights do a pretty good job of making sure the night sky is unreadable. I miss the days at my Dad's house where all I had to do was step outside and a million twinkling lights greeted me from above.

It got me to thinking about what I would most like to do if I could be magically transported there, right in this moment. The answer is easy. I would love to take a walk down my Dad's country road. It would be dark, quiet, chilly enough for a jacket. The stars would be out in all their splendor and I would not be walking alone. I would be with someone who could appreciate the moment. The beauty. The silence. I would stop in the middle of the road in front of the old barn that I have always wanted to explore. There I would tilt my head up and just gaze at the sky until the muscles in my neck begged me to change positions and move on.

I'll be home in November. Maybe I'll get my wish.

In a nutshell

Too many thoughts and experiences to make a coherent paragraph. I'll just make a list.

* I'm starting work on my Masters. My first class is "New Testament Studies," and it begins in about three and half weeks. I literally have thousands of pages to read before the class begins. Only have 125 read. I'm a little freaked.

* My job continues along just swimmingly. I'm up to my ears in copyright law...just when I think I have a rule figured out I find out that there are ten different exceptions that apply on different days of the week, in different types of weather, and is dependent on what I'm wearing. Basically what I'm saying is that copyright law is downright confusing.

* I had a...how shall we say...unusual experience this weekend. Unfit for blogging ears. You may however, call me, and I will divulge all the sordid details.

* I have two female friends from church who are both married and think it is a crime that I am not. They have made it their mission to point out to me every male that walks in the doors who looks single. The decided this weekend that it would be a good idea if I had business cards made up that they could hand out to single males that they think would be a good fit for me. I hope they were kidding.

* I'm going to Illinois for Thanksgiving and I couldn't be more excited about it. I miss my Dad.

* I'm trying to decide if I miss teaching. I don't miss the lesson planning, or the disciplining, or the meetings and inservices. I do however, miss my students. Most of them anyway. It was fun for a season, but God has moved me in another direction and I must admit I am very pleased.

* I'm starting a campaign to get more personal email. Real letters would be even better. The art of letter writing is so beautiful. I want to get more of them. Anyone want to be my faithful penpal?

* I have been having some disturbing dreams lately. Not nightmares, but dreams that are a glimpse of what my life could look like in the future. In them I am watching my life unfold almost as if am watching a movie. Sometimes I wake up and I am sad that the dream is over because what was watching happen was so good. Sometimes those dreams are almost worse than nightmares. My subconscious is teasing me with what I want but don't have yet. Bummer.

* God is faithful. Just like He was faithful in bringing me here to the desert, to CVC; He will be faithful in the future seasons of my life.

* That is my life in a nutshell.

Happy anniversary

Today is my anniversary. Exactly one year ago today I left Illinois to make the two day drive to Carson City, NV. It hardly seems like a year ago that I took one last look at what had been my home and started west.

I have days where I miss Illinois, miss the Midwest. But really, I think that I am just missing what is familiar. To say that it is hard to start over in a brand new state, thousands of miles from what and who you have always known would be a gross understatement. And yet, I have done it. There have been days when I have wanted to pick up, ditch this new life and move back. But I haven't. And I'm glad.

One year. Hardly seems possible. Happy anniversary to me.

Confessions

Alright...I admit it. I read the end of a book before I will commit to reading it. Some people consider this among the seven deadly sins. "What???" they exclaim in horror. "You simply can't do that. It just isn't the way it's done." But I do it anyway, and I'll tell you why.

If I don't like the way the book ends, I am not going to like the journey of getting to the end. It is just a simple fact; the biggest reason why I read the endings first. Besides, just because I know the ending doesn't mean I know how the author gets to the ending. That is fun part of reading a book anyway. The journey of getting the end. I enjoy the journey more if I know where I am going.

I spend quite a bit of money on books. Why would I want to spend 13 or 14 dollars on a book that I am not going to like reading? So when you think about it, reading the end of the book is also good stewardship. I am making sure that I am not wasting my resources on a book I will not enjoy, and therefore not read more than once.

The only exception to the rule is mystery novels. I still enjoy trying to figure out whodunit.

The group Avalon sings a song called "The Greatest Story Ever Told." The greatest story being salvation; Jesus drawing us to Himself. I got to thinking...I know the ending of this story too. Jesus has defeated Satan. My victory has been won. Ultimately God has chosen to let me read the end of His novel. That is what I call cool.

Natural Disaster?

I was at lunch yesterday with three of my co-workers, all of which have lived in the west for a number of years. One of the ladies mentioned that the weather felt like "earthquake weather." I had no idea you could predict that sort of thing with the weather. Anyway, she asked me if I had ever been through an earthquake; and I had to admit that I had not. I told them I had been through plenty of tornados though.

As far as I know, tornados are not a big threat here in Nevada. At least not like they are in the Midwest. Last summer I saw a tiny dust tornado...but I hardly think that counts. Today while I was at work I had this de ja vu tornado experience. The last couple of days have been stormy, lots of rain and some lightening and thunder. The air felt like a tornado...even though I knew that there wasn't one coming. It reminded me of being at my Dad's house, standing out in the yard with him watching the black clouds roll in, feeling the electricity in the air, that feeling in your gut when you knew the storm was going to be more than just a little thing. Even though I don't really miss the tornados - I sorta miss that feeling. Another one of life's dichotomies I guess.

Dreaming...

On occasion I will have a dream that is so real and vivid that it is frightening. Last week I had one of those dreams. The whole dream was swirling with emotion so thick and deep that I couldn't wake myself from it, and I couldn't shake the feeling long after it was over. It always makes me wonder; how is it that in my sleep I can feel so deeply? That I can be so affected by gut-wrenching, heart twisting emotion.

The nature of the dream makes me believe that I felt so deeply then because I won't allow myself to feel that deeply when I am awake. And certainly not without reason: Emotion that strong cuts deep...grief, regret, sadness. Heavy burdens.

I really believe our dreams are important. Certainly not in a Sci-fi sort of way...but I look in Scripture and see that dreams were important to God. The story of Joseph is proof-positive of that. Often after a night like last week I have wondered: is God trying to speak to me? Is He trying to tell me something that in my conscious state I am ignoring, or too busy to hear? I don't think it is out of the question that God would use a dream to try and get my attention.

The interesting part of all of this is that my sister Heather had an experience almost identical to mine one night later. Coincidence? I'm not so sure...

Captivating?

I am involved in a summer book club that is reading Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul, written by John and Stasi Eldredge. (John Eldredge is the author of Wild at Heart, that book for guys). Now, it would be safe to say that I am a bit leary of the whole "pop culture spirituality" movement that has made books like Wild at Heart so very popular. And I wouldn't even be reading this book if my friend hadn't asked me to join this book club/Bible study with her. And even though I certainly don't agree with everything that I have read in the book so far...much of it does resonate true.

There is one particular line from the book that I have been meditating on for the past few days. "I am not enough, and, I am too much at the same time." I am almost ashamed to admit how much I actually identify with this particular statement. The feeling that who I am as a woman is not enough for anyone, and yet at the same time who I am is simply too much. It is a painful dichotomy. Stasi Eldredge says it this way: "[I am] Not pretty enough, not thin enough, not kind enough, not gracious enough, not disciplined enough. But too emotional, too needy, too sensitive, too strong, too opinionated, too messy." Not all of those adjectives apply to me. But I have my own set that I could list. Not outgoing enough, not creative enough... simply not enough. And yet too independent, too structured...too much. Even if I don't agree with anything else in the book (which is actually not true...but for the sake of argument) my heart agrees with Stasi..."I am not enough, and, I am too much at the same time."

Here is a good example: I had this "friend" who kept trying to get me to go out with him. I kept turning him down because I honestly didn't have time in my schedule to go out. That season happened to just be really hectic....and I was booked solid. He decided that my life was too much for him...that I was too much....and he stopped asking me out. (Which actually is ok because we had nothing to talk about...it was uncomfortable...). And yet at the same time it is as if I was not enough. I was not enough and too much for him at the same time. Now, I don't really think this was really my problem. If someone wants to hang out with me they need to take me as I am, schedule and all. It is just a good example of the strange dichotomy that I am beginning to feel full force. Any thoughts anyone?

Tom, oh Tom, where foreart thou fair Tom?

Give me back to the days of the old Tom Cruise. The Tom who didn't attack Matt Lauer on the Today show, or the Tom who realized Oprah's couch was for sitting, not aerobics. I long for the days of yesteryear when seeing Tom Cruise in the news meant something good: like heaven forbid...actually promoting his movies instead of calling psychiatry a "pseudo-science." Really Tom, you shouldn't ostracize the psychiatric community right now....at the rate you are going you just might need their help soon.

I can't even watch my Special Edition Top Gun DVD anymore without being reminded of how my beloved Navy Pilot who coined the phrase, "I feel the need, the need for speed," is now acting as if he is on speed. Really, Tom...you're freaking me out.

An Equal Opportunity Clother

A few weeks ago I saw Will Farell on the Oprah show promoting his new movie, "Bewitched." During the course of the interview he divulged a rather odd habit of his: He rotates his wardrobe on an even schedule. He doesn't want to wear one pair of shoes too much, or one shirt more than another. So whatever comes up next in his closet is what he wears, regardless of whether it matches or not. An interesting system to be sure...Yet perhaps Will is on to something.

As I write this I have a direct line of sight into my closet, and my many pairs of shoes. It occurred to me that I have a couple of pairs of shoes that I wear quite often. The other pairs don my feet with little regularity or frequency. And while Will certainly has an unusual and refreshing approach to this problem, I am not sure it is the solution for me. If I showed up to work wearing my black sundress and my brown clogs I would get more than a few stares and snickers. Will Farell can get away with that sort of thing. Me, not so much.

Reality Check

What is it about being young that makes us feel invincible? As if sickness, death or tragedy will not spit its poison dart at us simply because we haven't made it "over the hill" yet. Case in point: I have a friend who is only 1 year older than I am. Today she found out that she might have ovarian cancer. She has to have surgery in the next two weeks so they can perform a biopsy on the tissue that has invaded her body. Scary? I think so.

It is, at the very least a reality check. At age 23, Cancer hasn't exactly been on my list of things to keep watch for. Cancer is a disease for old people-- Or at least people older than I am. Unbelievably though, today was a lesson in the fact that cancer (or disease in general for that matter) is an equal opportunity organization. It does not discriminate based on age, race, gender, or religious affiliation. I'll be the first to admit that the dreaded yearly exam isn't exactly high on my list of things to do. But if it'll save my life...

Travels

This is me with the city of Shanghai, China in the background.