Wednesday, October 29, 2008

My Friend Katie...

Let me tell you a story about my friend, Katie.
When I was moving to Kenya, she told me to save a spot in my suitcase "this big" and she showed me a size using her hands.
The night I was leaving, she handed me a giant stack of letters. Around 97, I think.
I had saved that suitcase space, so I packed them in.

I was supposed to read one a day...but I was pretty homesick in my first few weeks, so I read most of them then. Yesterday, I pulled out the stack and read through each one.

Here are a few reasons I love these cards:
  • Every card from Ron is signed with his first and last name.
  • One card from Abby is filled with photos of her--like a modeling photo shoot
  • Katie loves Kitale as much as I do (maybe more). So a few of the cards were about her being jealous that I'm here and she's not!
  • One card was written from Chipotle telling me to hurry back.
  • There were cards with photos of us, a photo of Justin Timberlake, a Schrute buck, Milo Ventmiglia, Jim Halpert
  • There were Bible verses about listening to God...seeking wisdom...perfect for what's happening here now
  • The last card is a birthday card...a woman surrounded by boxes of high heels...how well does Kate know me...seriously?
So, I knew I already loved Katie...then, I sent an email yesterday asking for a big favor...a project that I couldn't do alone, but needed help. The email was sent to five people and this morning there was a response from only Katie: "I'm in. Tell me the plan"

Man, I love her.

And I get to see her (and Ryanne!) in only 6 days!

Sleepless in Seattle

This afternoon, I watched Sleepless in Seattle...
I watch it every few months, usually alone because, honestly, who could I possibly convince to watch this with me?

Today's viewing was similar...I watched this classic film, alone, with my laptop and headphones...

There was, however, one small change: I cried. Twice.

I have seen this movie at least 30 times and I have never cried. Not once. Not even on the first viewing. Today...twice.

Once when Sam Baldwin says, "Maggie, my wife...she made everything beautiful"
And again, at the very end, when Sam says, "Shall we?"

Seriously?

Monday, October 27, 2008

This is Why I Love My Friend Luke

This is the comment he left me today...no explanations...

Still More Lyrics I Love

I made a playlist during one of the very long van rides we've had so far on this trip...I listen to it every once in a while and a few of the songs have lyrics that have caught my attention...and my affection.

How many of these songs can you name?

I believe that my life’s gonna see the love I give returned to me

I miss you more than I should, than I thought I could

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

My heart is yours. It’s you that I hold on to

How happy it would make me to see your face when I awake

He used to do surgery for girls in the 80s, but gravity always wins

Love is a poor man’s food, no prophesying

Strange that I was wrong enough, to think you loved me too, guess you were kissing a fool

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Me and Mr...Mr Sloane

I'm halfway through season 4 of Alias. I'm hooked.
I remember watching most of season two at the McGills (with the Casserly sisters--who had a dance to the theme song)...and I was never really that in to it.

Maybe it's the distance from new TV...maybe it's Vaughn...maybe it's the JJ Abrams signature twists and turns...

Whatever it is, I plan to finish the series in a week...just in time for more TV to arrive!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

I'm Blue...

It's almost my birthday...at least in this part of the world...about 2 1/2 hours...and I'm hitting the peak of homesickness.

I'm sitting here, at the dining room table, silently crying. I don't want to rouse suspicions of my roommates, since neither can be a real comfort to me in this moment.

I was just thinking, I've never been alone on my birthday...even when I lived in London, my parents and Alanna came to visit.

I know I'm not alone alone...I know there are two really fun people here with me...but they are not people that I live everyday life with...they're not my circle...and I am lonesome for that closeness tonight.

We will have cake, and I'm going to ride a camel...but I've never been so sad to miss Chipotle birthday lunch...and Fuddrucker family dinner...and funfetti cupcakes...

Two of my very best friends are coming to visit in a week...so that will definitely help...
I know I am just being a girl...and over-reacting...but I'm really, really sad tonight...

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Thirty Things To Do Before I'm Thirty...

I made a list of 25 things to do while I was 25...but I will be 26 in 2 days...so, I guess I didn't make them all happen...13 though, not too bad.

Since I couldn't make 25 happen in one year, I thought my next list will have a longer deadline. So..here is my list of 30 things to do before I'm 30: (all are tangible things...and I have 4 years...so, here goes nothing)...

30 Tangible Things To Do Before I'm 30

1. Read over 100 books
2. Get a giant tattoo
3. Perform somewhere (in a club, bar, coffee shop)
4. Go on another vacation with Katie Edwards
5. Fit in my old jeans
6. Read through the entire Bible
7. Buy a Louis Vuitton overnight bag
8. Watch at least 75 of the 100 Best Films of All Time
9. Throw two giant costume parties
10. Visit:
a. Japan
b. China
c. Australia
d. Ireland
e. Sweden
f. Ukraine
g. Costa Rica
h. Italy
11. Score over 160 in a game of bowling (sounds easy...but it might be the most difficult of all)
12. Take a ballet class
13. Go golfing with my Papa
14. Fluently speak a second language
15. Make a mosaic table for my house
16. Run a 5k
17. Invite at least 20 people to church
18. Write a book (even if it's never published)
19. Own some sweet high-heeled boots
20. Bring at least 10 students to Kitale, Kenya
21. Learn to read music
22. Dress up and have dinner at a fancy restaurant
23. Watch 9 new series of TV on DVD
24. Skydive
25. Live in New York
26. Kiss someone (a really good kiss)
27. Make a delicious--from scratch--dinner for friends
28. Spend an evening in a room lit by dozens of candles
29. Buy a dress from Bottega Veneta
30. Learn to play an instrument

Thursday, October 16, 2008

That's A Great Name...Seven!

I was tagged by Jess (I think I like you enough to call you that...is that okay?!)
So...here goes nothing:

1. I am a total book snob
I refuse to read anything on Target's Best-seller or "Recommended reads" shelf (the Classic shelf does not count in this). I also refuse to read anything that has been recommended by Oprah. I know I've missed out on some great books because of this, but I'm sticking to it nonetheless. (Oh, admission of guilt: I recently read "The Kite Runner" which had a Target sticker on it...but we were in Kakuma and there were no other books to read. So I think this is an acceptable exception.)

2. I cry about everything
I know this isn't a little-known fact, but it's definitely weird. Two weeks ago I cried when Daina made pumpkin bread because the smell reminded me of home. Last week I cried listening to "Hey There Delilah" because Dominik sang it one time and I miss him. Yesterday I cried talking about my friend Katie getting married. Big or small...the floodgates open.

3. I love to name fonts
I pride myself on knowing the names of fonts and trying to impart my knowledge on others...usually people don't care...but I love to point at a box of cereal and say, "$1 if you can name that font"

4. I talk to the TV
Alone, with others, watching TV on DVD on my laptop--wearing headphones...doesn't matter. I'm going to say, "Oh no!" or "Eww..." I am exactly what the writers are hoping for because I take all of my cues: cry here, gasp here, hate this character...I'm in.

5. I don't eat four-legged animals
I have always said I don't eat red meat, but I don't eat pork either. I stole the 4-legged bit from my friend, Becca, and it actually makes the most sense. I eat chicken, fish and turkey...no steak, ham, or even burgers for the last year or so. I do my best to make sure my eating habits don't effect the people around me: I'll eat all side dishes when meat is on the menu...no big deal.

6. I have lived in three of my four favorite cities in the world...there's one left
I have lived in London and Kitale (and, of course, OC--which is so run-together that I'm counting it as one city). The one place I would still love to live is New York. I'm not sure if or when that could happen, but I would like to mark that off of my life-list.

7. I know very little about music...and I'm okay with that
I don't listen to the radio. I don't read Rolling Stone. I don't seek out new Indy bands. I listen to music I know that I love, regardless of how long it's been on the shelf. I am totally content to listen to the same Ray LaMontagne album followed by Queen's Greatest Hits in to a little Kate Nash and then some Sinatra...I get some new music from friends or commercials, but I'm typically a month behind.

I tag: Adam, Ryanne, Allegra, Katelyn, Eliane, Josh Treece and Rachel.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Day 500 (Final Update)

As my 500th post, I made a list of goals that I would like to reach by 500 days from that day. (I am now at post 1,258.)
Here's the link to the original post...Day 500 was October 2, 2008.
Day 100, Day 200, Day 300, Day 400. (Weird how quickly time goes.)

* Read at least 23 books...CHECK
I can list them for you, if you'd like to read some of them...they were almost all really well written.

* Write something (a short story, some poetry, a song, a YM resource)...CHECK

* Weigh 135.
Nope

* Speak near-fluent Swahili.
Nope...but someday!

* Travel to at least 10 countries I have not been to before.
I didn't make it to ten...I made it to three. What a slow travel time this year...or I keep going back to the same places.

* Be financially independent...CHECK

* Have serious Kenya-living plans...CHECK
Oh, I live here.

* Be en route to a Master's degree.
Nope...and this may not be a reality ever...my how things change

* Record...CHECK

* Laugh a lot. Loudly and a lot...CHECK
Of course...

I liked this...it reminded me to keep trying...
I've already started my next list which I'll post tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Alias...I Adore You

I have three episodes left in season two of Alias.
I love it. Love it.

If I didn't love it for the story lines, action and sweet romance...I would love it for the handsome cast. Seriously...well chosen, Mr. Abrams.

Watch it, you'll be glad you did.

Friday, October 03, 2008

Harry Potter Humor

Like I said, we're all reading HP. Chris is reading book 6 and I'm reading book 7...
So now everything is a HP joke waiting to happen.

This, yesterday during a play...can you guess?
Yep, the Goblet of Fire.Then, a little girl was carrying the stick with which they are beaten in class...I yelled, "Chris! That girl has a wand!" He tried "Expelliarmus!" (It didn't work.) I tried "Alohomora" and "Wingardium Leviosa" (neither of which worked).
More to come, I'm sure.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

If Peeing Your Pants Is Cool, Consider Me Miles Davis

Tonight, we arrived at dinner and noticed that the little boy who lives in the house had peed his pants. So, Chris mentioned something about a time when he peed his pants...

I realized that I've never blogged about this story...and it's worth it:

Once, when I was about 4 or 5, I went to my friend's house to play...in my favorite outfit.
I was having so much fun that I didn't want to stop what I was doing to go to the bathroom.

So I just peed. Right there on her bedroom floor.

But I didn't tell her.

I just got up, pushed the Barbie Dream House box over the wet spot and went home.

When I got home, my mom knew what had happened (obviously).
To teach me a lesson, she told me pee doesn't come out of clothing...and she threw my favorite outfit in the trash.

I learned my lesson: from then on I paused Barbie Mansion-fun to go to the bathroom.
Also, the only other time my mom threw my favorite outfit away was when I left slime (from the 25-cent dispenser at the grocery store) in the pocket of my dress and it dyed all of the laundry yellow.

So, both times, I've deserved it.

You're welcome for sharing. Your turn...
Have you ever peed your pants?

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Dear JK Rowling...

Each of the three people in our house is currently reading a Harry Potter book.
In the last two months I have read 4, 5 and 6. I was supposed to receive 7 when my friends visit next month, but I could not wait...so I bought it in town yesterday.
I passed 6 on to Chris.
Daina has never read them, so she bought 1, 2 and 3 yesterday and will read the rest that I brought along.Chris wanted to make sure everyone could see how British we are...Harry Potter, tea, biscuits and Cadbury.
We are also totally nerdy these days and speak about HP as if it's real: tonight I told Chris that chocolate is so good post-Dementor attack...He said, "So true"