Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Oh man...

I forgot how scary the ending is...

I remember there being a HUGE rainstorm one night while we were having the pool built at my dad's house and thinking that it would be so scary to fall in and be surrounded by skeletons!...I just kept counting the time between thunders...so scary!

I'm not too scared to sleep, but I wouldn't go swimming tonight!

Poltergeist



I had just said, "We should watch Poltergeist tonight...it's the perfect amount of scary, but not so scary that I won't be able to sleep."

When I came home, it was on TV...

So creepy. So good. Such a great Halloween movie.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

The Only Dog I Will Pet With My Hands




I typically pet dogs with my feet...so I don't have to actually touch them and have dog hands...but how can you resist this?

Monday, October 29, 2007

Tagged By Bethany

Three words only.
I tag Luke.
And David Hughes.

1. Where is your cell phone? By my foot
2. Who is your boyfriend/girlfriend or Husband/Wife? Non Exis Tant
3. Where is one of your parents? At her house
4. Cheesecake? I make delicious...
5. Your favorite thing to do? Laugh really hard
6. Your dream last night? I can't remember
7. Your favorite drink? Water, Aquafina mostly
8. The room you're in? My living room
9. George Bush? Um, no opinion
10. What you're good at? Being totally awesome
11. One of your wish list items? Cosby Season Three
12. Where did you grow up? Right around here
13. The last thing you did? Emailed Matt Hall
14. What are you wearing? Christmas Halloween Costume
15. Who stole your sunglasses? No stealing here
16. Ketchup? Not so much
17. Your computer? Is a mac
18. Your life? Is so great
19. Your mood? Good, slightly sleepy
20. Your next blog? Will have photos
21. Your car is? Silver and beautiful
22. Your summer? Was so busy
23. Your relationship status? Single and happy
24. Your favorite color(s)? Red, white, black
25. When is the last time you laughed? At David's party

Things that are Delicious:

Chicken Nuggets and French Fries

Things that are more delicious with Sweet and Sour Sauce:
Chicken Nuggets and French Fries


McDonald's Drive-Thru attendant, I asked for some sauce and you did not give us any.
Our food was still tasty, but it could have been amazing.
I forgive you...just don't let it happen again.

My Soul is in Your Hands

On Saturday night, I got to sing in "big church". I was asked to sing "My Soul is in Your Hands", my favorite.

I have been singing this song for almost five years. I was given a CD of the background music to take with me on my second trip to Kenya. Since then, I have sang that song in orphanages, prisons, schools, hospitals, parks, churches, fields, playgrounds...all over. I've sang it with friends and by myself.

Dozens of my Kenya memories are attached to this song. I can't sing the words without remembering where I was, who was there with me, how God worked in those moments. You can read one of my favorites here.

As I sang this weekend, and looked around the worship center, I could see the faces of those who have been on various trips to Kenya with me. I know that a lot of their memories from the trips are attached to this song too (mostly because I sing this song everywhere we go for those two weeks. I would imagine most of them hope they don't have to hear the song for several months after we get home.)

It's all I can do to not break down and cry while I sing this...

The Way He Was

I spent the afternoon watching "The Way We Were" (after reading Cathi's blog about it)...

I enjoyed it, but I doubt I will watch it again anytime soon...

I'd have to say, my favorite part was young Robert Redford...so handsome...


Sunday, October 28, 2007

Pumpkin-Fest

HSM threw the First (of which I hope will become Annual) Pumpkinfest tonight after service.

The promo promised Pumpkin Smores, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Carving, Pumpkin Shaun...so, obviously, I was in...

I had a smore and a corn on the cob, bobbed for an apple, watched as others carved, and laughed a lot.

Part of the carving was a contest "carve the best pumpkin Shaun"...Katie and Shea carved a pretty darn good Shaun, but did not win. Another contest was "most creative" (which was won by a "rumpkin": a pumpkin carved to look like it was pooping seeds).

All in all, a very fun event...













Club 33


A group of friends went to Club 33 (in Disneyland) for dinner this week.
Such a fun group, and the food was pretty good too.

On the way out, the park was completely empty, so we took plenty of photos...














Flowers for Allison

I received some flowers for my birthday.
Ryanne reminded me to put them in a vase...but I didn't have one...
So, I made one out of the lid from the tower of CDs in my desk.

I'm like McGyver Stewart. (Wow, that's really un-funny...sorry about that)

Thursday, October 25, 2007

25 of the Best Memories of My Life (Part 5 of 5)

21. Singing at the Kitale Prison

22. Dancing to "One Sweet Day" with Josh Warren at Lindsay Chappell's 14th birthday party

23. My first kiss on the dance floor at the Wildside Costume Party in 8th grade

24. "Beautiful City", "Hand in Hand", "The Lord Bless You"...oh, show choir

25. Ensenada 2007...Jamie, Ryanne, Shaun...Rick Mc, Shark Attack, Pirates...so much laughter

It's a Wonderful Life

I know, such a cliche title...but today, my birthday, I really did realize this.

I woke up to my phone beeping birthday wishes from my mom...thankfully, there was no "I know what I was doing 25 years ago today!"

I arrived at work to a desk of roses, daisies, signs, candy, a giant cookie...

My day was filled with texts, phone calls, messages, emails, facebook messages, myspace comments...lunch, frappuccinos...

Thank you to those who sent any of the above. I had such a great birthday.

Oh, the day was also filled with stick ball, laughter, junk food, Chris Sligh singing me Happy Birthday, a broken-down car, great friends lending cars and giving rides, mac and cheese, cookie dough...

Such a great day...thank you.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

25 of the Best Memories of My Life (Part 4 of 5)

16. Today, in the office, playing baseball with a long, skinny stick and my birthday candy

17. The day Doug Fields let me throw a tennis ball at him, and then he threw it at me...and hit me

18. Muse concert

19. My Harry Potter birthday party

20. My LOST birthday party

TE-HAIR-IBBLE

So, I've had black hair for the last 8 months (or so)...but for the previous 4 years, I've been a blond.

A few people I know had been pressuring me to return to blond...against my better judgment, I gave in: I made an appointment to have my hair re-colored.

That was the first step toward a very long week...

From there, here's a brief version of what happened:

MONDAY:
-- My hair lady got food poisoning from a wedding.

WEDNESDAY:
-- I went to her house to have my hair done.
-- She "stripped" the black color out (she did this twice because it didn't quite work the first time)
-- The "stripping" product turned my hair orange, so she dyed it brown to cover the orange.
-- Then, she started puking.
-- So I went back to work (and had to explain that this wasn't how it was meant to look).

FRIDAY:
-- I went back, she was feeling better.
-- She put twice as many foils in my hair as usual (lots of bleach in each foil).
-- Took the foils out and said "This looks interesting. When I come back from vacation (2 weeks) I'll fix it."
-- I went back to work (crying) and having to (yet again) explain that this is not how it was meant to look.



-- I had to go to San Diego for the weekend...so I wore my hair up for 72 hours. (Luckily, the bangs were not too bad)

MONDAY:
-- I called my mom's hair lady. She had an opening. (at 1:30)
-- She said "Wow. It will be equally as difficult to go to black or blond...so we might as well keep going in the direction she started" (blond)
-- Again, double the foil.
-- This left my roots WHITE, the ends WHITE, and the middle ORANGE.


-- Cut large amounts of my hair off, to try to lighten the weight and keep it strong for more product.
-- Bleach on the orange parts.
-- Now the orange had spread from root to tip.
-- I pleaded with her to dye my hair back to black.
-- She dyed it brown.
-- I went home (crying) at 8:30pm and having to (yet again) explain that this is not how it was meant to look.



TUESDAY:
-- She calls first-thing saying she couldn't sleep knowing what she had done to me.
-- I go in, she dyes my hair black (finally!)
-- Finishes the cut, styles it.
-- I go to work (not crying), ready to explain why I have had 4 hair appointments to have shorter, but ultimately the exact same, hair.

Monday, October 22, 2007

25 of the Best Memories of My Life (Part 3 of 5)

11. Spending the night at the Rose Bowl, waiting to audition for American Idol

12. Playing "walka-walka-walka" in Bum and Papa's pool

13. Singing "The Reindeer Rock" in the car on the way home from school

14. Going to the lake every Friday night in Junior High

15. Doing puzzles and teaching Alanna to sing harmonies to Beatles songs

People Are Lying When They Say:

Ants go marching one-by-one

You should never mess with your hair, you'll always wish you had your natural color

When you grow up things get easier

You shouldn't paint your room a bright color, you'll get tired of it

Top Ramen isn't delicious

Global Warming doesn't actually exist

Too much TV rots your brain

Batman could beat Superman

Growing up to be like your mother is a bad thing

All water tastes the same


can you think of another?

25 of the Best Memories of My Life (Part 2 of 5)

6. Hanging with Griff, Jake and Coop while programming the Indy conference
(I've never laughed so hard in my entire life)

7. Driving to school with Katie (then Sadler) and ending up at the airport
(oh, even after a dozen years this story is still amazing to me)

8. Working the bar at Starbucks; remembering names and drinks
(and being really efficient on bar)

9. Senior prom

(even though I had crazy diarrhea through most of the dance, it was still a really fun night)

10. Working as Steve Rutenbar's assistant
(there are so many stories, you can read a few here)

Sunday, October 21, 2007

25 of the Best Memories of My Life (Part 1 of 5)

(In no particular order)

1. Leaving Oasis of Hope, knowing in my heart that God would bring me back to live
2. Breaking my plastic high heels while throwing a fit
3. Living in London (eating food in the living room, finding church.co.uk, cooking Thanksgiving--this one could be 25 in itself, so I'm bundling it as one)
4. Singing at Easter services for the first time
5. Walking through NYC with my dad and best friends, in the rain, on the way to Serendipity

The Revolution

I have one shelf on my bookcase dedicated to books I'm going to read soon.

I just picked up The Revolution: A Field Manual for Changing Your World
(Edited by Heather Zydek)

I've only read the introduction, but read through tear-filled eyes.

"[...]societal ills of all kinds are ever-present and great. But greater is the love that can overcome these ills. If God is love, and if we are made in His image and likeness, surely there is enough love in this world to wipe away every tear that falls from the eyes of those afflicted by pain, hunger, war, or some other misery."

"The Revolution is meant to be a concise handbook that points people in the direction of action; where you go from here depends on how motivated you are to learn about the many different ills that plague our world."

"But as Mother Teresa said, 'I hope you are not giving only out of your surplus. You must give what costs you, make a sacrifice, go without something you like, that your gift may have some value before God. Then you will be truly brothers and sisters to the poor who are deprived of even the things they need.'"

I love it already...I'm sure this won't be the only time you hear about this...

Saturday, October 20, 2007

You're My Best Friend (by Queen)

Katie and I drove down to Youth Specialties this afternoon, and talked and laughed all the way here.

We love to change the lyrics from a popular song to fit whatever the conversation is.

Here are a few of the best from today:

She Bugs, She Bugs ("She Bangs, She Bangs" by Ricky Martin)

We Own the Night ("Because the Night" by 10,000 Maniacs)

I've Got Some Tums in My Pocket ("Hand in My Pocket" by Alanis Morissette)

I'm Turning on Fraizee ("Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley)

Too Many Pools Have Been Built In-Between Us ("Too Many Walls" by Cathy Dennis)

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Jim and Pam




I know it's TV. I know that they are not real people. But I love them.
I'm so glad they are together...I'm so glad Karen is out of the picture.
It's just the way it should always be.

"I love Italian food"...oh man, this show is the best

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Hair Mis-Hap

I went to have my hair done this afternoon...I was supposed to enter as a brunette and leave as a blonde...

But then...

My hair lady got the pukes...she was super sick and so I had to leave.

So, now, I have brown hair, with blonde roots and it smells like too much product.

Not really what I was hoping for...on Friday when it's fixed, I'll post some photos...

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

I Am the Biggest Loser

Tonight, while watching The Biggest Loser, I cried quite a bit.

Watching the Red Team, as they watched their videos from home...the spouses saying "I miss you", the kids saying "I love you daddy! I miss you"...so sweet.

Then, as if that weren't bad enough...one of the contestants found out her mother was dying from leukemia, so she went home and her mom died that day (or the very next day)...

Holy cow...I totally cried, alone, on my couch...over the lives of strangers...

Nothing Says "Team Lunch" Like Grease and Pool

Last Tuesday, the JH staff (with Megan and Jason) headed to Cook's Corner for lunch.
At first, I was opposed to this idea; I was convinced that they only sell food covered in chili. Kurt and Matt said I was totally mistaken.

Sure enough, we walk in and there is a man eating a HUGE plate of chili nachos...

We sat down at a few round tables and noticed writing all over the walls and ceiling...so, when in Rome.



Then came the best part of all: a pool table.

Brian and I played one game, which I won...only because Brian scratched on the 8-ball.




After lunch, we played a second game: Alice and Bethany vs. Brian and Megan. This time, Bethany scratched on the 8-ball, so we lost.



I ordered a sandwich (sans chili)...and played two games of pool...
All in all, a very fun lunch spot.

Other Movies I Aim to See

Have you seen these?
If so, are they worth my time?


We Own the Night

3:10 to Yuma

Into the Wild

Darjeeling Limited

Assassination of Jesse James

Lars and the Real Girl


I also want to see Rendition, but that doesn't come out until Friday.

Across the Universe



So good...

Sunday, October 14, 2007

I Gave In...

People have been telling me that I should use Google Reader.

I didn't want to believe them...but I am so far behind on the blogs of others, I decided it was time.

I am now the proud user of Google Reader, and I love it.

Dear Andy Samberg,

I wish you were my boyfriend...for so many reasons...most of them being your ridiculous SNL Digital Shorts...another being your movie Hot Rod...another is your curly hair...



I would also settle for just being friends,
Allison

It's Choctober

In Wildside, the month of October is known as Choctober...which means all Chocolate in the month of October: all of the games are chocolate, the prizes are chocolate, and the best part of all: Chocolate Slip and Slide.

That's right...a 40+foot Slip and Slide right down the center aisle of our tent. We call it Chocodile Mile. A strip of plastic sheeting covered in chocolate milk, chocolate syrup and baby oil (to counter-act the stickiness of the chocolate syrup)

It's our fourth year running the slip and slide, and I think we finally got the recipe down; tonight was the first time a student slid all the way to the stage. Well done, Kyle!

We had one of our leaders (Kevin) dress up as the 1991 Champion and demonstrate the slide.

Here are a few pictures...Thanks Kevin, for being a good sport!



You Too Can Be Creepy For Just One Easy Payment of $14.95

Tonight I was playing P.I (ideally more Mars than Magnum).

I googled a cell phone number to see if I could find the name on the account.

Turns out, for just $14.95, you can open an account that will allow you to access the name and address attached to any phone number.

Good to know that my safety can be so easily compromised.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Have You Seen My...

Family Ties Season One?

If you have it, could I please have it back?

Thank you.

With a Gun They Bought at Wal-Mart Discount Store*

This morning, Jaime and I went to Wal-Mart.
(Let me preface this story by saying, I hate Wal-Mart. I think it is filthy and I don't think that their prices are any lower than my cleanly-neighborhood Target.)

Here is a short list of the spectacles that lay waiting this morning:
-- Three employees (all with crimpy hair and extra-long fake nails) standing talking to each other, unable to help us find slickers...then, when they decide to help us, another customer asks where to find lunch boxes. The employee says "I'd help you find them but I'm helping another customer right now" and walks away.

--Two grown men with matching bleached blonde (white-blonde) hair and gold necklaces (oh, and tank tops)

--A man in the optometry section with his hand in his jacket as if he had a gun

Jaime made the trip tolerable:

--Swerving the cart like crazy: "You have to drive your cart like this because these people like Nascar."

--A few minutes in to the shopping trip: "Maybe it's psycho-semantic, but my hands are really itchy."

--When neither of us could find the goggles: "Matt Hall could find them because he actually shops here."

We couldn't get out of there fast enough...and when we did leave, we purchased a small bottle of Purell, so we could de-Mart our hands before drinking our beverages (which we left in the car so they wouldn't collect germs in the store).

*This is a line from "Love is a Good Thing" by Sheryl Crow. They do not sell this CD at Wal-Mart because of this line.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Walking in L.A.--M.E.

There were a lot of outside voices being used in the office this afternoon.

I'll admit, I contribute to this volume level on occasion.

Today was not one of those days.

So, I was wearing my headphones...and walking around the office.

I had made a playlist that I really enjoy, so I didn't see anything wrong with listening to it at my desk and also while I travel to and from the copier...

I was asked, more than once, if I was listening to a "drive-time devotional" and told that if I was not, I should not be wearing my headphones away from my desk.

Headphones at work: desk-only or wander-friendly?

David M Hughes

Yesterday, my friend David wrote a really great post...
Not just because my name is in it, but because it shows a lot of who David is...It shows David's love of JH students and his love for God...
What I love most about it is that it shows what great leaders and our amazing student ministries can do in the life of a student who gets it and has a desire to grow...

You can read his post HERE.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Music Makes the People Come Together

Here are the TOP 5 SONGS MOST FREQUENTLY PLAYED in my i-Tunes purchased list:
1. At Last (Single)--Etta James
2. To Make You Feel My Love--Josh Kelley
3. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic--The Police
4. Since You Been Gone--Kelly Clarkson
5. The First Cut is the Deepest--Sheryl Crow


Here are the TOP 5 SONGS FREQUENTLY PLAYED IN MY CAR:
1. Mad World--Gary Jules
2. Girls Just Want to Have Fun--Greg Laswell
3. The Way I Am--Ingrid Michaelson
4. Time After Time--Eva Cassidy
5. Gone Daddy Gone--Gnarls Barkley

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

25 Things To Do While I'm 25

1. Make a mosaic table
2. Have my very first Christmas tree, stockings, and Christmas morning at my own house
3. Get some students to think about their community and the world around them
4. Learn to speak a foreign language
5. Visit London
6. Watch a movie in an LA Cemetery (Cinespia)
7. Relax
8. Make a trifle
9. Take dance lessons
10. Be a good small group leader
11. Go indoor sky-diving
12. Learn to use a sewing machine
13. Ride in a helicopter
14. Spend the night at Montage
15. Go to baseball games at Fenway Park and Wrigley Field
16. Watch 3 full series of TV on DVD
17. Learn to play the guitar
18. Work with Habitat for Humanity
19. Buy a pair of Christian Louboutins
20. Apply for graduate school
21. Learn to cook
22. Visit Kenya
23. Be a good friend
24. Get a full-body massage
25. Visit the Grand Canyon


Feel free to help me accomplish any of these goals...

Monday, October 08, 2007

25 Finds Me...in 25th Place...

I stole this idea from Josh. I'm going to be 25 in 15 days. This website will show you the accomplishments of famous people at your age.

Here are a few that I feel I could compete with:


P. T. Barnum bought a "160-year-old" slave woman and began a career in show business.

Janis Joplin made her first recording, "Cheap Thrills," which grossed over a million dollars within a few months.

Activist Mollie Steimer became the first person to be deported from both the United States and the Soviet Union.

Here are a few I will not compete with:


Fayette, N.Y. farmhand Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He claimed he translated the Book of Mormon from some golden tablets revealed to him by the angel Moroni.

Chris Burden created "Painting Shoot," which involved the artist being shot in the left arm by a friend.

Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly alone across the Atlantic, thus winning a $25,000 prize.

Coming tomorrow: 25 Things I Would Like to do While I am 25.

Could I BE More Embarrassed?

I am sitting on my couch, feeling a little sick (stuffy nose, scratchy throat) and thinking that I would really like to go for a walk around the lake...

I was thinking: oh, I'll bring my house key, my phone and some money so I can go to the grocery store on my way back to buy medicine and some food.

Here's the embarrassing part. I actually thought: I don't want to carry my purse around the lake...it's a shame I don't have a fanny pack.

Oh man, I'm a loser...

P.S. The only fanny pack I've ever owned was black and said New Kids on the Block. That doesn't help make me look less like a loser.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

My Mom Loves Photography

My mom's post tonight is slightly embarrassing, but also a reminder of how much my mom loves me and my brother...

Check it out...

Two Blankets...

I love winter.

I can't wait to wear sweaters...socks and shoes...sweatshirts...I love it. I would much rather be too cold than too hot.

Last night, I put a second blanket on my bed...and that makes me really excited.

Winter is on its way!

We were driving up 85...

Here are some photos from the GA trip...and the stories that accompany them:

Our rental car was a Prius. Matt Hall had some difficulty starting the engine and putting it in park; it took three tries every time...very funny.




I was able to experience Cracker Barrel for the first time in my life. These are from our first visit...we returned two of the next three days...and it was tasty all three times...On the second visit the Sartis bought me a sock monkey Christmas ornament. I can't wait to hang it on my tree (well, in December)




Apparently, in the South, there are Chick-Fil-A Dwarf Houses. The front of the restaurant is a small house with a tiny door, which Matt Hall did not have to bend down to walk through.


On Friday night, Rick Warren spoke at the conference. His group invited us (and the Children's team) to meet them for dinner at Pappadeaux. David told us to "go big or go home", so I ordered lobster tail, Matt Hall had Mahi-Mahi, and Leigh had prime rib. I had called out the lobster I was going to eat...so then I had to take a picture to prove that I kicked its butt.






Matt Hall was chilly on our third visit to Cracker Barrel...so I let him borrow my jacket.