The Bee Told Me

Changing Leaves

2011-10-16T21:33:00.001-07:00

Fall has arrived and it has been beautiful and rainy. We were spoiled with some sunshine this afternoon and we couldn't help but go outside and climb some trees.

July 14, 2012

2011-09-26T14:22:00.001-07:00

It's going to be a good day. Believe me.

School Books

2011-08-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Morning:

"Does anyone know if I've gotten any of my textbooks in the mail yet? They should probably be getting here soon."

A unanimous "Not that I know of."

Last Night:

"I guess it's been awhile since we got the mail!"

Wisdom and Design and Licorice

2011-08-18T17:53:00.000-07:00

I am now a little less intelligent then this morning. That's right, I said farewell to my wisdom teeth. But everything is grand. No pain, yet. And I have managed to avid dry socket. Let's keep our finger's crossed that my luck remains.

In addition to getting some dental work done, I did some designing.

Jeremy of the Colorblind Soldiers asked me to decorate a guitar. Armed with a menagerie of Sharpies, I spent the majority of the afternoon drawing. I knew that I wanted to include my interpretation of "Candy Lion Flower" (the title of a CBS song) but everything else just sort of happened. Of course, Jeremy was very much involved, adding his own designs and several quotes. It was enjoyable, to say the least.

Here is the finished project:

On a different note, Jonny and I received some devastating news today. The Tillamook Creamery is supposedly discontinuing their White Licorice ice cream! We are very upset.

Stinky

2011-08-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

"Watch the Stinky movie? Please! Please watch the Stinky movie!"

"Oh, you mean Snoopy."

"Yeah, watch the Snoopy movie! PLEASE!"

Forgetfulness

2011-08-10T23:26:00.000-07:00

"What's the name of that girl who lives in the garage?" - My grandmother to my brother

My grandmother is starting to be forgetful. I am that girl who lives in the garage - or in the bedroom we built in the garage. However sad this is, you can't help but chuckle. The question just sounds so silly. So far Grandma remembers who I am. She knows she knows me, the specifics of our relationship and my name is sometimes too difficult. Just a reminder to appreciate the time you have with the ones you love.

Walls

2011-08-10T23:05:00.000-07:00

I spent a good portion of my day hanging paintings and photographs in my sleeping chambers. Somehow it has taken me 2 years to accomplish this. It was quite difficult to get things centered and straight and symmetrical - well, as symmetrical as a collage can be. It turned out nicely.

My niece, Kayden, dancing. She especially likes the red house in the painting.

All paintings were made by yours truly, except the sunset which was painted by Anna, my sister-in-law.

P.S. I seem to be missing my SD card (meaning Jonny took it), so these delightful images were taken with my celular telephone.

Shopping

2011-08-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

Online shopping - fun yet irritating. There are just too many beautiful things out there. I do enjoy things. I could easily become addicted to online shopping, or shopping in general, if my bank account had a few more zeros behind the existing numbers. Luckily if I did get addicted, I doubt I would ever become a hoarder seeing as though I am organized and clean.

Speaking of online shopping, I may or may not have ordered a major item for the wedding day today.

“So, the order is finalized. Just like that you have a _________ on a Tuesday* afternoon.” - Steven, my father

Exciting stuff!

Did I mention I’m engaged? I suspect you gathered as much. You probably heard about it. It’s sort of a big deal. Most definitely bigger than Prince William and Catherine Middleton’s Royal Wedding. No doubt about it.

Jonny is pretty excited too.

*Day of purchase, not the day of the wedding.

Living

2011-05-18T00:47:00.000-07:00

"Learn from the past, but live in the present"

Dove chocolate wrappers are so wise.

Grandma-isms

2011-05-17T23:08:00.000-07:00

Forgetting is easy. My grandmother on my father's side says many funny things and I do not wish to forget them. Last time she visited I decided to write down some of her little sayings which I refer to as grandma-isms. I just found the list and thought I would share. I wish people incorporated these types of sayings in their everyday conversations more. Actually, maybe not because then they wouldn't seem so special.

Grandma-isms:
Ish
Oh for Pete's sake!
Oh for heaven's sake!
Hell's bells
What the Sam hell?!
Lickity-split
Oops! or Oh! Excuse me! (Whenever I walk within 2 feet of her and she thinks she got in my way)
Ah! You scared me! (When I'm walking down the hallway when she comes out of her bedroom or bathroom)
Oh for crying out loud!
Oh goodie!
You're kidding me!
Well I'll be darned.

Other things she says very regularly:
Is Steve home? (Whenever I or my mom get home from someplace)
Jonny. . . I really like him. (Sometimes I think that she likes Jonny more than she likes me)
You know I love you. . . I love you so very much!

She always refers to cats as females and dogs as males. This can be interesting since my cat Leo is a boy and my dog Sadie is a girl.

Senior Photos: Jeremy

2011-05-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

Here are a few shots from my session with Jeremy today. To see all of the pictures, you can go here. Enjoy!

Tolerance

2011-04-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

Last week my school's newspaper published an opinion piece arguing prayer should not be performed at official school functions such as Commencement or Convocation. I was hurt by the negative portrayal of Christians and the overall derogatory tone of the article. In hopes of being published in this week's newspaper, I wrote the following as a response. Sadly, my piece is about twice as long as what is acceptable for letters to the editor (although I addressed my letter to the author). I was unable to shorten it in time for this evening's deadline, so a post on here will have to suffice.

Please read the article: "Separate church & commencement" before continuing.

I'd love to hear your thoughts concerning this. Thanks for reading!

Dear Dylan DiSalvio,

I affirm your argument as valuable and respect your opinion. Although, as a Christian, I appreciate Lewis & Clark’s inclusion of prayer at events such as Commencement, perhaps you are correct when you say that prayer, “has no place at any official function of LC.” Lewis & Clark does have religious roots, but since it no longer claims any religious affiliation, official, public and all-inclusive events may not be appropriate settings for prayer.

I am saddened to see words such as, “bigheaded” and “arrogance” connected to religious individuals. It is also unfortunate that “uncomfortable,” “insulting” and “hurtful” describe your experiences with religion. Through these descriptions, it does not appear as though, in the past, religious individuals have been respectful of your spiritual views. I hope that future interactions with religious figures will prove to be more positive. Misunderstandings may be central to these poor experiences. You claim, “. . . religion is foreign to me,” yet interpret the language used in Duntley’s invocations as “offensive because of its condescending nature and intent.” I would like to assure you that it is not Duntley’s goal to be condescending. I encourage further discussion regarding the role of prayer at official LC events to be held in a safe and truly accepting setting which will allow individuals to more clearly state their goals and opinions. With this said, there are several points I would like to make regarding tolerance.

You state, “Essential to tolerance, which all modern secular institutions purport to practice, is respect for others’ views: the religious beliefs of one group should never be forced on another.” I am in complete agreement with this declaration. Every person has the right to believe what he or she wants and should be protected against discrimination. Mark Duntley’s invocations, in my opinion, embrace this tolerance. Duntley asserts, “With every invocation at commencement I begin with this phrase: ‘I invite you to join with me in the spirit of prayer.’ So, the way I see it, what I provide really is only an invitation to join in prayer, not a mandate to pray.” With this invitation, Duntley is allowing people to make the choice to participate or not, thus avoiding a forceful imposition of his religious views on others.

I do not want to speak for Duntley, but when he invokes, “Gracious God,” he very well may be invoking a Christian God for himself. However, the ambiguity of “Gracious God” allows non-Christians to invoke their own god when willingly participating in the act of prayer. Duntley’s prayer is non-specific for this purpose.

The core of my concern is how tolerance is displayed on our campus. When I was considering where to go to college, I was attracted to LC greatly due to its declaration of diversity and tolerance. I was excited to be in a foreign environment containing people with varying worldviews because I believe that by learning about others, we are able to learn more about ourselves.

We should be proud that diversity is one of the defining features of LC and tolerance is necessary if we are to encourage, not hamper, diversity. No matter whether a group is a majority or minority, we should respect them simply because they exist and value them because they are different. Participants and spectators in these various groups must acknowledge that there is an appropriate time and place for self expression. What is important is that we make any group, whether religious, racial, or sexually oriented in nature, feel as though they are safe and welcome to discover that time and place on our campus.

I hope that my response does not come across as accusatory or disrespectful of your views. That is not my intent. I want to emphasize that all students, faculty and staff should be held responsible for guaranteeing individuals of all types to feel accepted at Lewis & Clark. In order for diversity and tolerance to flourish on our campus, love, acceptance and kindness should become the primary components of our everyday interactions, no matter whom or what we encounter.

Sincerely,

Meilani Kirkwood

I like you

2011-02-09T21:07:00.000-08:00

Jonny, I like you.

I like that you allow me to control the heater AND radio every time we are in the car.

I like that you will eat my peanut butter cookies and I will eat your artichokes.

I like you because you like me.

I like you because you are you.

And you are a good match for me.

And you like me and I like you.

Happy 6 Year Anniversary.

You are my favorite.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

2011-01-23T21:02:00.000-08:00

Only a week in to the semester and I am overwhelmed. Good thing I have "The Little Engine That Could" as a role model.

Little People, Lots of Love

2011-01-11T22:17:00.000-08:00

Here are some snippets from my Christmas break. When I wasn't watching movies, you could probably find me playing with these guys.

Kayden arriving on a makeshift stroller.

Flips with Appa (Kayden's name for Grandpa).

We get really excited about doing our hair.

Kyan loves watching the ceiling fan.

He also loves his Aunty Mei Mei, even if his expression doesn't show it.

Kayden and Kyan with Grandma and Great Grandma.

Baby Quinn at one week.

She talks a lot for being so tiny. We mostly discussed religion and politics. Or maybe we just talked about what a great Aunty I am and how much I love her.

Napping with Daddy.

Eating, sleeping and pooping is soooo tiring!

Quinn, Mama and Grandma.

I like to imagine I'm her favorite.

Skyping Uncle Jonny in the outfit he gave me!

Pondering the meaning of life.

The Holiday Season

2011-01-07T15:18:00.000-08:00

The purpose of the Holiday Season is to be as productive as possible. Correct? I believe so. I also believe that I have been extremely productive this Christmas break.

I spent my time in the following ways:

1. With Family and Friends

2. Eating

3. Watching Movies

4. Reading

5. Shopping

Here is a list of the movies I have watched over the last 3 weeks. I am quite proud of this accomplishment:

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas

2. Alice in Wonderland (2010)

3. A Lot Like Love

4. Angels and Demons

5. The A-Team

6. Brothers (2009)

7. Dear John

8. Eat Pray Love

9. Elf

10. The Family Stone

11. Four Christmases

12. Frosty Returns

13. Frosty the Snowman

14. The Great Outdoors

15. Helvetica

16. The Holiday

17. The Hot Chick

18. How to Train Your Dragon

19. The Land Before Time

20. The Lion King

21. The Little Drummer Boy

22. Madagascar

23. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

24. National Geographic: Secret Yosemite

25. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

26. Objectified

27. Pearl Harbor

28. Ponyo

29. Robin Hood (Disney)

30. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

31. Salt

32. Saturday Night Live: The Best of Commerical Parodies

33. The September Issue

34. Sex and the City 2

35. Shutter Island

36. The Tourist

37. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

38. Unthinkable

39. Wallace & Gromit in Three Amazing Adventures

40. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

41. White Oleander

42. Wild China

October

2010-11-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

What a crazy busy month. School has failed to provide me with any breaks. I would love to sleep for three days straight. Too bad I won't get a chance to for another five weeks. But think! Only five weeks till Christmas break! Yay! Well, despite my sleepiness, I am quite content with life in general. That is a good thing. Life is a good thing.

Bellies

2010-10-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

My sister Karen and (somewhat) sister Sasha will each be having a baby girl this December! My other sister (technically sister-in-law) Anna will be having a baby boy here in the next week! Believe me, I am excited! Below is a picture of Karen and a picture of Sasha with their baby bumps.

Best. Boyfriend. Ever.

2010-09-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

Last week was pretty terrible. Maybe not terrible. . . just very busy. But when I am busy I am usually stressed, and when I am stressed I usually don't sleep well, and when I don't sleep well I usually get sick or grumpy or both. So last week was, looking back, not terrible, but pretty terrible as it was occurring.

This week had the potential of being fairly brutal. Several tests. A large economics assignment due. Lots of homework and reading. Sounds pretty busy. But it hasn't been bad. In fact, this week turned out to be great! A class was cancelled, I was productive yesterday (not as much so today, though) and. . .

Last night Jonny (with the help of Leanna) surprised me with tickets to see Arcade Fire in Portland this Thursday night!

I am beyond EXCITED!

It was a completely unexpected, and greatly desired, gift. Jonny, I am learning, is turning out to be an okay boyfriend. I'll keep him around for at least another week.

Josef and Jeremy will also be joining us. It should be an enjoyable evening.

A Full Weekend

2010-09-20T22:53:00.000-07:00

A trip to the coast. Check.

Colorblind Soldiers concert. Check.

Lots of food. Check.

Good people. Check.

Homework. Sadly, check.

However, I did enjoy doing some of my homework since it was in the form of shooting photographs. More info. about my upcoming photo project will probably be posted in the future. For now, here are some photographs from the highly successful photo shoot I held. Thank you to all my models!

Film

2010-09-09T20:05:00.000-07:00

I came about this camera while searching for 110 film online. At the reasonable price of $10, I wish I could get it. I guess I could get it. The only thing is that this adorable thing takes 110 film, which is no longer made (110 film is sold online, but most of it is expired). It may qualify as an impractical purchase. I already have a Vivitar 600, which also takes 110 film. I don't need another almost useless camera. So sad.

What do you like to do?

2010-09-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

I like to:

- cook & bake

- scrapbook

- learn about new music

- blog

- pursue interior decorating

(this usually involves reorganizing the furniture in my bedroom)

- draw

- go to the beach

- take pictures

- drink coffee

- read

- organize things

I suggest you make a list of things you enjoy. After you complete this list, try to do at least one of the activities on your list each day. Doing so will probably make you a happier person. I'm going to participate in this experiment.

Epileptic Dog

2010-09-06T00:38:00.001-07:00

This is Sadie. She has seizures. Kind of like the dogs in this video. But her seizures are not as humorous. I hope her medicine starts working better.

Nighttime Strolls

2010-09-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

I went downtown yesterday evening due to a last-minute decision not to stay in home and watch television. This was a good thing, even though my companions (Jonny, Leanna and Jenny) and I happened upon oceans of people along the waterfront. I guess the free concert put on by the Oregon Symphony and accompanied by the Oregon Ballet Theater was a little bigger of a deal than I was led to believe. The steaming streets, firework-splattered finale and Thai dinner following the concert almost made me forget summer is coming to a close.

Rain. Rain. Go Away...

2010-09-01T18:55:00.001-07:00

I have not appreciated the rain, clouds and general coldness Portland has been experiencing this past week, so I looked up the weather in McMurdo, Antarctica. Gross! I guess 60 degrees isn't too terrible after all.

Sleepyhead

2010-08-31T21:32:00.000-07:00

"Sleepyhead" is a great song by Passion Pit. It is also a more than adequate way to describe me at the moment.

You know what would wake me up and definitely cheer me up? A "YAY for school starting!" present, perhaps? Maybe some concert tickets to Arcade Fire*? I think so.

*I would be fine with Passion Pit tickets, even though I like Arcade Fire MUCH better, but Passion Pit isn't coming to Portland. Guess who is coming to Portland though... Yes! You are so smart! Arcade Fire is the right answer. How did you know?

First Day of Junior Year!

2010-08-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

School was not terrible or stressful today. And I'm not being sarcastic, seriously.

But despite my homework-free, and thus good, school day, my day was slightly tainted by some unpleasant news. Today I learned that I'm actually not a Junior. I am 8 credits shy of upperclassman status. Oh well... I'm still going to tell everyone I'm a Junior. I would say my 20 years of life and 18 years of education [If you count 3 years of preschool and 1 year of kindergarden, like I do] qualify me for the use of the title "Junior."

Yes, indeed. I am halfway through college and I will soon conquer the world! ...Or at least I will conquer my classes this semester.

The End of Summer

2010-08-26T19:59:00.001-07:00

I have been busy.

Some work.

A family vacation to Idaho which included a little bit of tent camping and a lot of sleeping under the stars.

A road trip to California. Without air conditioning but with my boyfriend, lots of iced beverages and even more deodorant.

Some shopping.

A tad bit of "Arrested Development." Or maybe a little bit more than "a tad."

A novel titled "The Forgotten Garden." I recommend it, especially if you enjoy family secrets, mystery, and/or English history.

A concert at the Zoo.

Lots of family and friends and some long-awaited sunshine.

It has been enjoyable. Only nine months until it starts all over again.

Once in a While

2010-07-26T22:17:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I do things. These pictures document some of the things I do or like. Maybe you will learn something new about me.

Sometimes I like to go on picnics with Jonny.

Sometimes Jonny and I have to wait for our family. It is unnecessary to distinguish his from mine because they are both on what I like to call "Hawaiian Time." And, yes, sometimes Jonny has to wait for me.

Sometimes Jonny doodles things about me and for me. I like it.

Sometimes I like to make people confused. . . or uncomfortable.

Sometimes I like to snuggle with Leo.

Sometimes I REALLY miss my niece. I also miss her parents.

Sometimes I like to wear other people's wigs.

Sometimes I like to laugh at the silly-looking lama that lives across the street. Once in a while I will stop to say hi when I'm on a walk with my puppy, Sadie, and I always try to see how close I can get to the lama without him running away or spitting on me.

Sometimes I drive from Portland to Tillamook or from Tillamook to Portland. Actually, I think I do this a little bit more often than "sometimes."

Sometimes I like to trim my locks.

And Sometimes I let Simba drive.

5 Miles

2010-07-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

I have blisters forming on my toes and my knee hurts, but at least I don't have to feel guilty about eating a bowl of ice cream.

Working

2010-07-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

I like it. A lot. Especially since I basically spend the day organizing, one of my favorite activities, with a little bit of math mixed in. And it isn't terrible that I occasionally answer phones. The label maker is becoming my favorite tool. It may be better than the computer. . . Or maybe not. But close.

It's a bonus that my bosses are two of the funniest and nicest people I know.

It's a bonus bonus that I get paid.

Saving Lives

2010-07-10T23:58:00.000-07:00

I saw a teenage girl get plowed by a mass transit bus today.

Well, almost. The bus driver slammed on his brakes and honked frantically, providing the dimwit a minuscule amount of time to dodge out of his way. If it wasn't for the honking, I'm fairly certain she would have stepped obliviously to her death.

It remains a mystery why she and her male friend were skipping through a seven, literally seven, lane intersection while their crosswalk sign blinked a red hand and vehicles raced past at 45 miles per hour. Stupid teenagers. (I'm allowed to say that now because I'm 20.)

This incident got me thinking about some of the dumb things I did as a teenager. I went through this stage where I would obnoxiously cough and mumble "smoking kills" whenever I walked past a person smoking. Well, maybe I didn't do that with every smoker I passed, just the smokers I passed when I was with my friends. They were all doing it too. That makes it okay right? (In case you weren't sure, the answer to that question is "no.")

Very immature. I am not proud of this. However, at least I was trying to save lives, not recklessly endangering my own life.

*Actually, I wasn't even a teenager when I did this coughing thing. Maybe that makes it a little less terrible? The younger you are, the more you can get away with.

Happy 3rd!

2010-07-09T23:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Magdelana!

Whew. . . I was worried I might miss the big day! No need to sweat it though, I've got minutes to spare.

I hope you enjoyed your special day! Thanks for sharing a bit of it with me. And if you didn't get that octopus you were wanting, I guess we will need to make a trip out to the aquarium. We can visit one there.

Johannes Xavier Ivan Long

2010-07-09T23:36:00.001-07:00

Johannes Xavier Ivan Long is a handsome, sleepy, snuggly, and intelligent young fellow. He is undoubtedly the most perfect looking newborn boy I have ever seen. I will be a superb aunty. I can tell we will have a special relationship because he has already taken after me with his sleeping habits. If you would like to know more about him, feel free to go here.

*Please ignore the fact that Johannes may be the only newborn boy I have seen in person. I have seen babies in movies, and none of them were nearly as cute as Johannes. That must mean something, because I've heard show business is pretty tough to get in to. Looks are pretty much everything in that line of work.

The Fourth

2010-07-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

Sleeping in.
Helping to make Test tasting potato salad.
Driving to the beach, staking out our spot of sand, watching Jonny and Lee dig a fire pit, reloading the truck and driving back to the house after deciding the rain was going to be miserable.
A surprise visit from Baby Boy Long/Baby Brother, recently titled Johannes Xavier Ivan Long. His family came as well, adding to the excellence of the surprise.
Chips, hot dogs, potato salad, corn salad, grilled asparagus, corn on the cob, juice and soda.
Fireworks. A few in person. A lot on the television.
A dip in the hot tub under the night sky.
Plenty of family and friends to go around.

The View From Here

2010-06-24T20:56:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of 3 interesting things I saw today:

1. A lama chasing a cow in the field across the street from my house.

2. Participants of the Special Olympics running through Lake Oswego as I was heading to summer school.

3. A mail man, or a man in an outfit very similar to that issued by the United States Postal Service, riding a Harley.

MIA

2010-06-16T21:03:00.000-07:00

I blame the television show Weeds for my absence the past little while. Although I don't know how the drug would affect me, the fact that I finished 5 seasons in under 2 weeks while I was attending summer school probably shows that I might have a slightly addictive personality. I should probably stay away from the stuff - the plant kind and the television kind.

DVD Cover

2010-06-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

Just something I threw together one afternoon. It's part of the DVD cover for a little movie titled "Harold." For an idea of what the movie is like, watch this. Contact him or go here to learn more about "Harold" or similar films. And while you're at it, this music is really good too.

The Lima Bean

2010-05-26T23:54:00.002-07:00

Yup, the Kirkwood, or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say the Bissell, clan is expanding. My lima bean-sized niece or nephew will be arriving during my birthday month. Actually, he/she was a lima bean about two weeks ago. I'm not sure what his/her food equivalent size is right now. Whatever it is, I am very proud to be an aunt for the third time!

On an equally exciting note, Jonathan is finally home from Pohnpei!!!

Baby, Baby, Please. . .

2010-05-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

"Get up off your knees. This ain't the time or place to grieve all you grieve. . . Just look at Rome, look at the Old South. It's the oppressed that show you then and now how sheer will can turn the world on its side. . ."

- Matthew Ryan in "Babybird"

I absolutely love this song. As with many of my favorite artists and bands, Josef introduced me to Matthew Ryan. Thanks Josef!

Writing Troubles

2010-05-18T10:16:00.001-07:00

I've found that when I am really happy, as I have been for the past two weeks, I have no desire to go on the computer and write about what's going on. I'm too busy doing things I love, usually with people I love. Typically away from the internet. Or on the internet in the form of watching television shows.

However, I also find that when I am in a foul mood I'm much more likely to write something. This is a problem because I have no desire to fill my blog with rants. Who actually enjoys hearing people complain? I don't know the exact number, but I'm pretty sure it is pretty small.

This leaves one more dilemma. When I am in a neutral mood, I may or may not write, but if I do write, it ends up sounding like I am writing in a diary. "Today I... blah blah blah." Nothing special. Nothing funny. Nothing emotional. Just a review of what's going on. I usually delete these posts before I even post them - to save you guys from boredom. Better to say nothing, I guess, than to scare people away by my un-wittyness.

So I apologize for my lack of postings. I am struggling to find a balance between positive and negative - or struggling to eliminate the negative altogether. I promise I will begin posting interesting, silly, and potentially humorous tidbits again very soon.

By the way, happy spring! And happy summer to my fellow people who have finished school already.

Prom

2010-05-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

Prom is pretty fun when:

1. you know the band playing

2. you are a sophomore in college and know no one at the high school

3. your dance partner is your boyfriend's sister who is in 8th grade

4. your twirling, jumping, clapping, and all-around silly dance moves leave your toes with blisters - although the blisters may not feel so good the next day.

Prom would be more fun with:

1. your boyfriend, especially so that you don't have to stand solo at the edge of the dance floor while everyone is swaying to a slow song.

In the picture above: my prom "date" (Jonny's dad) and I. He was one of the parent chaperones.

And so finals begin...

2010-04-29T20:36:00.001-07:00

Too bad my brain has already been set to summer mode. I'm feeing especially unmotivated at the moment.

So Excited!

2010-04-27T23:12:00.000-07:00

I just found out that after April 30 I will no longer have to pay for parking at school! This means I will not have to carpool with my dad during summer school. YAY for no more 9-hour days on campus!

Tomorrow is also my last day of real classes.

And now I get to go to sleep, which sounds delicious.

4:20

2010-04-20T17:16:00.000-07:00

I find it humorous yet sad that for the past two weeks I have been receiving e-mails from faculty and staff at L&C warning students to avoid smoking pot today. Apparently the police have been wandering around campus all day since marijuana has been such an issue in the past. I don't recall ever associating April 20 with the the unofficial pot holiday [at least I think - and hope - it's unofficial] before attending L&C. Maybe if the staff wouldn't send out so many e-mail's reminding the students of today's date, the students would forget the date altogether and wouldn't cause the problems administration is trying to avoid. Unlikely. I've been studying in the library all day, so as far as I know there haven't been any major drug busts. I'm sure someone will get caught due to their stupidity. Stories of the occurrence will spread across campus like wildfire the rest of the week, but I will still be in the dark as to what happened since I have no part in the rumor mill here. Whatever happens, I will probably hear about it from my dad who will have heard about it from a coworker. I'm glad I have my father around to keep me informed of school happenings.

Why?

2010-04-19T23:45:00.000-07:00

I just saw that one of my Facebook friends became a fan of "Trying to fall asleep while thinking how screwed you are at school tomorrow." What would poses someone to become a fan of that? In my understanding, you usually enjoy what you are a fan of. Maybe I'm wrong though. Approximately 93% of my school-year nights are spent laying awake for close to 30 minutes thinking about what I have to do for the next day, or week, or when I have a ton to do, the next month. In no way do I enjoy this. I can't imagine how anyone else would be able to.

Just one of those days. . .

2010-04-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

Today started well. I slept in an hour longer than I normally get to. Jeremy stayed over and watched the Blazers vs. Suns game last night, so this morning I enjoy spending a few minutes with someone around my age I am actually friends with - something I don't typically get to do during the week since the acquaintances I have at school are far from what I would call quality friends. I also left to school with plenty of time to spare, also a rare occurrence.

The day soon turned sour. First, after driving for several minutes, I noticed that my car tank was close to empty and I had forgotten my wallet at home. I turned around, making my early start become a late start. I had an odd suspicion that things were only going to get worse when I turned on the car radio and, after flipping through channels for 8.3 minutes, every single song just made me annoyed. There also appeared to be near to nothing in my CD case that sounded appealing. Eventually I put on the Colorblind Soldiers demo, since "Remember You Remember Me" is probably in my top 7 - or 4 - favorite songs. Upon my arrival at school my day failed to improve. The demo was the perfect music choice and was probably the highlight of my day. It's between that or the few minutes I chatted with Jonny on the cellular. Maybe Jack Bauer on "24" will cheer me up a little later. He seems to always find a way to save the day.

Costco

2010-04-13T22:38:00.001-07:00

I made a trip to Costco with my mom this afternoon. Upon entry we were greeted by rows upon rows of planters overflowing with springtime flowers. My mom reacted to the scene by saying, "Oh me oh my! Some ladies like diamonds, but I like flowers." She did restrain herself from buying any, sticking to the potting soil we originally made the trip for. Maybe next time.

Also, I fell asleep in the car at a stop we made before Costco. Surprisingly, I actually got too hot in the car. . . when it was off. Looks like summer is closer than I though!

Maybe I should be more worried.

2010-04-12T10:53:00.001-07:00

So much to do yet it feels like there is nothing to do.

Good or bad?

I guess I will just enjoy not being overly stressed out for once.

Late-Night Campfire

2010-04-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

I burst into flames last night.

At 12:45 am, after falling asleep while attempting to finish Monday night's episode of "24" with my parents, Keola and Anna, I groggily made my way to my bedroom for the remainder of the night-- or I guess the morning. Before I climbed into bed I adjusted the temperature of the heat dish warming my room and heard this "Pfff" sound as I was leaning over the heater. I looked down and the strings used to tighten the hood of my sweatshirt had little fire balls at their ends. Somehow the heat, or maybe surface of the actual heater, had ignited my clothing. I panicked, and not wanting to burn my hand, proceeded to blow on the fire rather than smothering it. Not the smartest idea since that is exactly what you want to do when trying to start a fire, but in my defense, I was thinking of blowing out birthday candles. Thankfully my entire sweatshirt didn't ignite and the fire balls did go out. Maybe my birthday candle idea wasn't all that bad.

I was a little more awake after this and entertained the idea of watching the last 35 minutes of "24," but eventually decided against it. It took me a little while to fall asleep with the smell of smoke in the air.

Kayden's Springtime Visit

2010-04-07T17:01:00.000-07:00

Above:

11pm last night: Kayden, my niece, woke up due to the smell of freshly-made popcorn, one of her favorite snacks. After refusing to go to sleep, she was allowed out of her crib. She ate 3 bowls of popcorn while watching me do a workout video. After her stomach and taste buds were satisfied, Kayden then attempted to do some crunches, sang at the top of her lungs while running around the living room, and summersaulted her way to an even more hyper mood than she already possessed. An episode of The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh finally settled her down and she got to bed over 3 hours after her bed time.

Below:

Kayden on Easter.

If only all classes were like this...

2010-04-01T21:22:00.001-07:00

Surrounded by chemicals, I almost didn't notice that 7 hours passed today while I was busily finishing a project in the lab. Thankfully I was in a photo lab and not a scientific lab. It's nice to have one class where my homework is relaxing and enjoyable, even if I have to stay 4 hours after class in order to finish it.

Weekly Date

2010-03-16T22:45:00.000-07:00

My father and I had our weekly date to Baskin Robbins again today. I got the flavor "Tax Crunch" [The flavor my father picked out last week]. It reminded me how delicious life is when you are an unemployed college student who does not need to do taxes like everyone else. You should try it sometime - the ice cream flavor, not being unemployed. I needed a little bit of encouragement concerning my lack of income. Even if you have to do taxes, I'd say they are a small price to pay for having a little bit of splurging cash for those concerts I am missing out on.

The Mountain

2010-03-15T23:10:00.000-07:00

Maybe I shouldn't wait so long to put my clean clothes away. At least reorganizing my closet gave me an excuse to not do my homework.

Just Get On With It Already!

2010-03-12T23:19:00.000-08:00

There is a girl in my art history class who very much enjoys hearing her own voice. Literally 97% of the time our teacher asks a question she is the first one to respond. It typically takes her 3 minutes to get to the point, and once she finally says what she set out to explain, she manages to say the same thing 4 more times in, what I am assuming, she imagines to be a more precise and intellectual way. Repeating yourself does not exactly help you sound smarter or make your thought any more correct. She has yet to learn this. She also needs to learn to take a hint. Every time my teacher affirms my classmate's comments and attempts to continue the discussion and let other students have a chance to speak, the girl just talks louder and quicker. I feel very bad for my teacher, but I do find the situation quite humorous.

Male Bonding

2010-03-12T22:21:00.000-08:00

"I am going to go change my clothes, finish putting the dishes away and then make brownies. After that I am going to sit in my chair for the remainder of the evening," proclaimed my dad after dinner.

Eventually my dad got to sit down and, as usual, Leo immediately claimed his spot on my dad's lap. "You are the cat of the highest intellect and the warmest fuzziness. Of all the cats you are the cat-iest," I overheard him tell Leo.

The Ultimate Networking Opportunity. Wasted.

2010-03-11T21:58:00.000-08:00

I had a dream last night that I saw Oprah while shopping at a grocery store. Rather than introducing myself and taking advantage of one of the most amazing networking opportunities ever, I approached Oprah and simply suggested, "You should really try pretzels dipped in Nutella" before walking away.

The me that existed in the dream imagined Oprah revealing pretzels with Nutella as one of her "favorite things" on her annual television special. She would most likely give an anonymous young woman at a grocery store in Portland, OR [me] credit for the idea and I would basically become famous, even if my identity was still a mystery. Although the fictional, dream me was completely content with such an outcome, I woke up feeling disappointed and frustrated. Why would I waste the chance to gain one of the most powerful women in the United States as a supporter of me and my ideas [whatever they might be]?

Hopefully if I meet Oprah in real life I will be smart enough to actually introduce myself and choose to speak with her about things other than comfort food.

[I give credit to Lanessa Long for the pretzels in Nutella idea. It really is worth trying!]

Books and Drool

2010-03-09T22:31:00.000-08:00

Is March too late to start a New Year's resolution? I think not, especially since I woke up to a light dusting of snow this morning, something that usually only happens around January.

This afternoon after classes and lunch I headed to the library to study as usual. After approximately 30 minutes of reading my eyelids decided they did not want to stay open, so I took notice of their laziness and took a quick 15 minute nap. When I awoke I found drool on my sweatshirt sleeve. Gross. And peculiar. I typically do not drool unless I am extremely tired and in a deep sleep. Feeling surprisingly refreshed I resumed my studies. This time it took 45 minutes before my eyelids grew heavy and my mind resolved to deny anything in Spanish [the subject I was currently studying]. I think it is a problem that I can not even study for an hour without falling asleep. Something must change. Even though caffiene sounds like an attractive solution, simply sleeping more hours at night is probably smarter.

I am now determined to be in bed before 11 during the school week - at least until Spring Break. And rules do not apply when I am a) with friends b) have tests, especially if they are in the form of final exams.

I better head to bed. Goodnight.

Eight Weeks

2010-03-07T23:27:00.000-08:00

1. The number of weeks I have of class until summer break!

Also

2. Approximately how old my future niece or nephew is!

Random Dislikes [With Some Likes Mixed In] | Topic: School and Home

2010-03-02T20:09:00.000-08:00

I dislike the many girls at school who go to the bathroom and leave without washing their hands. (I can't believe how many people do this at L&C! If they are trying to be environmentally friendly by not wasting water, they should think about how much energy is being wasted by factories who are making medications in response to the diseases they are spreading!)

I like my secluded spot in the library where I study everyday and I typically have an entire couch to myself. This comes in handy when my studying makes me sleepy and I need a nap.

I dislike people playing a wooden flute right outside the window near where I study in the library. Yes, the music is pretty, but I can't exactly memorize the names of Chinese artists with the distraction.

I like my Tuesday night dates with my dad to get $1.00 scoops of ice cream at Baskin Robins.

I dislike not being able to find the coffee pot because my mom used it to water the plants around the house and she forgot it in the laundry room behind some laundry baskets.

I like eating dinner with my parents every night. I also enjoy watching TV with them. And, I guess, just having them around all the time in general. They are pretty good company.

Spring

2010-02-28T23:59:00.000-08:00

It smelled like campfires, barbecues and freshly cut grass today. Tempted by the Spring-like weather, I wanted to spend the afternoon napping in the sunshine and reading a good book. Too bad I have midterms this week and I spent the entire day holed up in the house studying. I hope the sunshine comes back next weekend! And hopefully I will be able to enjoy it if it does decide to return.

State

2010-02-28T23:39:00.000-08:00

This weekend I chose to spend my Saturday evening at a high school basketball state tournament game rather than the "Spring Fling" dance L&C put on. It was an easy choice, seeing as though I actually knew some people attending the game, unlike the dance. I also don't exactly dance...

I joined Lee, Sue and Lanessa Long to cheer on Portland Adventist Academy, or rather Jeremy, as they took on the #1 ranked team (Dayton). Extremely exciting. Very close. But PAA ended up loosing 77-65. Jeremy had 24 points. Not too shabby of a way to end the season. Great job everyone!

Stylin'

2010-02-25T23:29:00.000-08:00

Over Christmas break Jonny was at my house and we looked though a few old photos. While doing so, he and my dad had the following exchange:

Jonny: "Steve, you have had impeccable style for a long time!"

My Dad: "What can I say? I keep my body in shape and make my clothes last."

Here is a sketch I did based on a photo of my father circa 1984. I would like to know if he still has this outfit. If he does, does he still fit it? I sure hope so! I would love for him to wear this to work someday.

Vegetarian, Or At Least A Healthy Carnivore

2010-02-25T20:43:00.000-08:00

Apparently my cat, Leo, likes to eat peas. I learned this after he ate a pea off of the kitchen floor and proceeded to meow and bat with his paw at my hand to get me to feed him more.

One of those days...

2010-02-23T23:47:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days where nothing seemed to go as planned. I guess all there is to do is endure it and keep on going.

"What are five things that make you extremely happy?"

2010-02-21T23:30:00.000-08:00

Last week during one of our many drives commuting to and from L&C my father asked me the above question. Although I haven't pondered and documented such a list in the past, I do think it is a useful activity and I encourage you to do so as well. On days when it seems like there is nothing good in the world, such a list can remind you that life isn't completely terrible - there are things that make you happy. Or in the future you can look back and see how your preferences have changed. After a little brainstorming I came up with the below list.

5 things that make me happy:

1. Sipping coffee while accompanied by friends and good conversation.

2. Waking up in the morning when I have nothing to do and nowhere to go and I can just lay there all snuggly and warm thinking in silence.

3. Road trips with Jonny [These are some of the only times we can spend time alone with basically no distractions.]

4. Printing photos in the dark room [I find the repetition extremely relaxing]

5. Sitting in the sun on a hot summer day near a body of water, preferably I would not be alone.

*The list is in no particular order.

Partly Homeless

2010-02-19T00:15:00.000-08:00

In a text conversation from Tuesday 2/16/09:

Me: "I miss you. Let's elope and live in a van (since we won't be able to afford a house with my L&C tuition). I'd be happy since I would be with you, even if we had to eat Ramen or rice and beans all the time."

Jonny: "I could life off of Ramen. Let's do it... I'm looking for a van on Craigslist as I text."

Jonny did not find a van online. I guess our plan to elope will not be taking place. Also, *if we get married we would need to have a traditional (with a twist) wedding. How else would we eventually own a collection of crystal candy dishes and vases if we don't have an actual wedding? Since those items are absolutely essential. . .

*Contradictory to common belief Jonny and I are NOT actually engaged, and we probably will not be in the extremely near future.

Presidents Day

2010-02-15T20:30:00.000-08:00

For some reason I find it just a little unpatriotic to have school on Presidents Day, especially when my time on campus was spent studying Chinese art history and Spanish. I wish I could have celebrated the leaders of our country while sleeping in until 11AM and watching the olympics all day like the rest of the country.

Not Bad, Seeing As Though We Are 260 Miles Apart...

2010-02-09T20:55:00.000-08:00

I received a bouquet of flowers, chocolates and a note from Jonny today while I was at school. They were sent to my dad's office at L&C, and they were the perfect mid-afternoon surprise!

Jonny also surprised me by ordering me dinner to go from Zeppo in Lake Oswego.

The menu for my 5 year anniversary was:

- Margherita Pizza

- Caesar Salad

- Garden Linguine [With Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Capers, Goat Cheese and Roasted garlic Sautéed in Olive Oil]

- Basil Pesto Pasta [With Artichoke Hearts, Mushrooms and Broccoli]

- Ciabatta Bread

- Jones Green Apple Soda

Since Jonny is 260 miles away at school at WWU and I'm here in Portland, we decided to eat dinner together using Skype.

Five Year Anniversary

2010-02-09T00:03:00.000-08:00

So far I have not come to regret spending 1/4 of my life with Jonny as my boyfriend. Hopefully it stays that way! I am pretty lucky to have someone like him around.

Jonny,

Thank you for loving me and withstanding 3 years of long distance. I am looking forward to the future and the many new memories we will make together. I love you very much and my love is still growing with every day.

Photo credit to Josef Long and self timers.

Stand Out Against Racism

2010-02-06T13:45:00.001-08:00

Wednesday 2/6/10: As a reaction to swastikas drawn on walls and flyers posted around campus that made derogatory remarks towards blacks, the students at L&C organized a stand out to fight against racism. "Be proud!" was yelled often, as students and faculty gathered in the rain to support one another.

Tripple Treat Tuesday

2010-02-06T13:05:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday on our way to L&C my father and I saw a sign advertising $1.00 scoops of ice cream at Baskin Robbins. We decided to make a quick stop on our way home in the evening.

At approximately 6:27 PM we pulled into the ice cream shop's parking lot.

Kid-sized scoops: $1.00

Regular-sized scoops: $1.50

My father only wanted one regular scoop. Chocolate chip, as usual. However, he decided that we needed to spend at least $5.00 so that he could use his card without being charged a $0.50 fee, and instructed me to get three regular scoops in a waffle cone. I did not protest, and ordered one scoop of chocolate fudge, one scoop of white chocolate cherry, and one scoop of jamoca (My favorite flavor they offer). It was probably a little more than I needed, and even wanted, but it was delicious. And I finished it all.

Tip of the Day

2010-02-01T20:12:00.000-08:00

Saturday afternoon I was at the hospital with some friends awaiting the arrival of baby Annika. Jeremy had a basketball game Saturday evening at 7:30 PM, and left the Vancouver, Wa hospital with his girlfriend, Julie, at approximately 4:39 PM in order to arrive at the game site [located 30 minutes away] on time. Team members needed to be at the gym by 6:00 PM. Maybe I am not very good with math, but it appears as though Jeremy left just a tad earlier than required. It's okay though, I tend to try to spend as much time with my significant other as possible too.

As Jeremy was climbing into the passenger seat of Julie's car his father, Lee, rushed over to pronounce:

"Jeremy, my tip of the day for you is: Never stop shooting the ball."

Very good advice.

Jeremy and Julie began to pull out of the parking lot and I couldn't resist jumping on the bandwagon. I immediately took out my phone and texted Jeremy:

"My tip of the day: Don't go making any babies."

Also very good advice.

I thought I was quite clever, seeing as though we were at the hospital's "Family Birthing Center" and Jeremy had just left with his girlfriend nearly an hour earlier than necessary. Apparently Jeremy didn't find my advice all that humorous. I assume this because I saw him later Saturday evening and I spent all of Sunday with him and he never said a word about it. It's okay though, I forgive you Jeremy. You don't have to find everything I say funny. Just most of it. Jonny, on the other hand, needs to find all that I say entertaining.

Misfit

2010-01-29T22:34:00.000-08:00

L&C Peer:

"So, was the school you went to last year religious?"

Me:

"Yeah it was. Pretty different than here."

L&C Peer:

"Yeah... When I applied to colleges I immediately ruled out any religious schools, including schools with religious patrons."

I'm glad she is confident in what she wants. Confidence is important... But I'm also glad that I am confident in what I want, believe in, and value. I do appreciate that she was honest about her feelings. religion ≠ bad, just like people with beliefs different than my own ≠ bad.

Today is...

2010-01-20T10:04:00.001-08:00

National Penguin Awareness Day

[An unfinished version of a Christmas greeting card I made for a graphics class in the Fall of 2008]

Half Way!

2010-01-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

Today I officially started my second semester at Lewis & Clark College. The school year's half-way point has now been passed by my big toe. This excites me, not because Christmas break is over, but because Jonny and I only have about 15 weeks of long distance left! Hopefully after this we can call quits to long distance for eternity. I can't wait! I can almost feel the summer sun and warm breeze. It will be nice to be in the same state together. It's about time!

Marathon on the Couch

2010-01-18T22:26:00.000-08:00

For my last evening of freedom until Summer Vacation, I enjoyed lounging on the couch accompanied by my dad and my cat Leo. We watched "Star Wars" Episode 6, 2 rerun episodes of "The Office," and later viewed the second 2-hour season premier of the show "24." At first Leo didn't find our viewing choices satisfactory and fell asleep while guarding the remote. When it was absolutely necessary he woke up to adjust the volume with his whiskers. When my dad brought out some popcorn, however, Leo gained a new interest in our decision to watch TV for 5 hours straight and, as usual, proceeded to beg for a kernel or two, or ten. As my dad pointed out, Leo lives for popcorn. Popcorn, according to Leo's taste buds, is superior to milk, cheese, fish, and even chicken. A phenomenal cat indeed. He is so amazing that when I told Jonny that I once let Leo steer the car while I handled the gas and breaks, he believed me and claimed, "That is impressive!" However, it wouldn't be fair to ignore the fact that Jonny was VERY close to falling asleep when we had this conversation. But still, he believed me. That has to say something about Leo and his awesomeness.

Too Fast!

2010-01-17T20:33:00.000-08:00

If only school went by as fast as Christmas break always does! This could have been the best break ever. If only Jonathan could have come home from Pohnpei...

I will try to be thankful for the past 4 weeks, especially the last 2, rather than bitter that it's over.

How Was My Drive To Walla Walla?

2010-01-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

Gray and rainy.

I listened to my iPod on shuffle, and when"January Rain" by David Gray came on it seemed nothing but perfect.

I'll see you soon Jonny.

Random Dislikes | Topic: Words

2010-01-04T20:03:00.001-08:00

Three of my least favorite words are:

1. Depot

2. Phoenix

3. Colonel

Words should be spelled like they sound.

Resolutions

2010-01-04T19:05:00.000-08:00

1. Learn to be more patient.

2. Practice being decisive.

3. Exercise at least two times a week.

Migrating Birds

2010-01-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

We played tag, but for some reason I was always "it." We were not happy to be forced to part.

She had to fly down to Phoenix for the remainder of winter. Oregon is too cold.

Bonding Time

2010-01-02T12:08:00.001-08:00

We watched a movie. She patted Leo, my kitty.

Christmas Wrapping

2009-12-22T15:13:00.001-08:00

Kayden helped me wrap some presents.

Night Owl

2009-12-22T14:56:00.001-08:00

My mom and niece, Kayden, at the airport at approximately 12:07 AM last night, or I guess this morning. Kayden did not sleep a wink during her flight from Arizona. With the time difference between Phoenix and Portland she didn't fall asleep until 1:45 AM her time. She must have been too excited to see me that she couldn't rest.

Offline | Naked Fingers

2009-12-21T22:05:00.000-08:00

Offline

Over the last semester I have become mildly addicted to Facebook. I accredit this problem to my desire to feel connected with my boyfriend (Jonny), distant friends and various acquaintances I accumulated last year at WWU. The four-hour drive between Walla Walla, WA and Portland, OR challenges my ability to be continually informed and involved in my former schoolmates' lives, but Facebook has made the distance a little less daunting. Now that many of my friends are home for the holidays I am planning on spending far less time on Facebook and more time with them in person. However, whenever I get on the internet I find myself signing into Facebook by habit, so the internet must be avoided at all costs so that I will not waste hours away on the social networking site. So, since I will not be online as often over the next three weeks, my blogging might be a little less frequent than I, and hopefully you, would like. I'm sorry.

Naked Fingers

There are two rings I wear everyday: a sterling silver heart ring I bought for myself and a diamond promise ring Jonny gave me for our four-year anniversary last February. On Thursday, December 17 I misplaced these rings on the ground in the parking lot of an extremely busy postoffice. When I say misplaced, I mean that I placed the rings on my lap as I was putting lotion on, forgot that they were in my lap, got out of the car and didn't notice that the rings fell on the ground. It wasn't until I was about 1.5 hours west of the postoffice that I realized my hands felt a tiny bit lighter. When I could not find the rings anywhere in the car, panic set in and I became VERY angry that there is no cellphone service in the mountain range between Tillamook and Portland, through which I was currently driving with my mom. Once I had cellphone service I contacted the postoffice. No rings were turned in and the woman I spoke with over the phone persisted that she and the other workers were not allowed to go outside and search the parking lot, but she did say she would call me back if anything was turned in. With a tear-soaked face I called my dad in desperation. He agreed to take his lunch break early and head over to the postoffice. When he arrived and I instructed him where to look, he had no luck. I had not received a call that my rings were turned in, but he stood in line anyway to ask if some honest person had brought them inside. They had. My dad collected my rings, thanked the woman I yelled at over the phone, and I finally decided that it was safe to tell Jonny about my forgetfulness. I spent 4 days without the accompaniment of my rings. My fingers no longer feel naked.

First Days of Vacation

2009-12-18T15:10:00.000-08:00

1. Anelisse spent the night. We had a highly successful Christmas shopping-spree. She also gave me a hair cut.

2. I came to Tillamook, OR to my boyfriend's house. Without him. Us girls went to tea (His sisters, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister-in-law, and sister-in-law's sister. Also, my mother joined us). The outing was delightful and I got to wear a cool hat! My rosehip hibiscus tea was delicious.

3. I slept in until 11 AM this morning. I would say vacation has been beyond satisfactory.

Not Christmas in July but July in Christmas

2009-12-13T16:48:00.000-08:00

It is a delicious 77 degrees.

I love it when my living room feels like a summer afternoon. When I someday own my own house it will definitely need to have a wood-burning fireplace like the one in parents' house, or I will have an extremely high heating bill due to the furnace. My poor husband. We will be broke.

Last Essay

2009-12-10T21:53:00.000-08:00

My attempt to finish my last essay assignment of the Fall 2009 semester.

Icebreaker

2009-12-10T12:04:00.000-08:00

I recently attended a holiday event in which the guests were randomly paired up for an icebreaker game. We were instructed to learn our partner's name, hometown, and an interesting fact about the individual. Later on we were to inform the entire group of party-goers of the information we gleaned. This activity did not excite me. At all. As I frantically ripped my memory apart in hopes of finding something adequately fascinating, my palms became clammy, my heart began to race, and the room temperature seemed to increase about 10 degrees [Which was fine with me since I'm perpetually cold between the months of October and March (approximately)]. Panic overcame me and I felt like the most boring person in existence. I am not amazing at a particular hobby or sport, I have not traveled anywhere exceptionally exciting, and I do not have any strange talents. It would be nice to have people say, "Oh! I know Meilani. She's the one that. . . (blah blah blah)." Unfortunately I don't appear to have any qualities that qualify me as a captivating and unforgettable individual.

After this horrendous experience I decided that I should probably keep a few interesting facts about myself in mind at all times. You never know when someone is going to ask you to describe yourself.

Here are some [hopefully] interesting facts about myself:

1. I was forced to jump off a galloping horse in the Grand Canyon after my tour guide failed to notice that my horse went crazy and that I was separated from the group. My horse would buck every time I pulled the reigns back to slow him down. Stupid thing.

2. I almost died when I was 5 weeks old because 2 little boys poured lemon-scented perfume on my face. The perfume went in my eyes, nose, and mouth. Surprisingly I love lemon flavored items.

3. I regularly remember my dreams in vivid detail.

4. I LOVE white licorice flavored ice cream at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Some of my other favorite ice cream flavors include: coffee, pistachio, sweet cream, crème brûlée, and anything chocolate.

5. I had nightmares for over a year after I saw the movie Jumanji. I think I was 7 at the time.

I found this website dedicated to icebreaker activities. Below are more random facts about myself I discovered when answering these questions.

1. If I could have an endless supply of food it would be either ice cream, green beans, or avocados.

2. If I were an animal I would want to be a lion. A male lion. This is because the females hunt. The males basically sleep and eat.

3. If there was a movie made about myself I would want Natalie Portman to play me.

5. My favorite cartoon character is Winnie the Pooh. I am not happy that the song on this webpage is different than the song on the movies I used to watch.

6. Places I am particularly interested in visiting: Paris, France | Santorini, Greece | Seychelles | Italy | New York

7. Pet peeves: I have many, but one in particular is: I hate it when people turn off their windshield wipers when they are still partway up on the window.

8. Quirky habit: I always shake the milk carton before I pour myself a glass of milk.

The Final Mile

2009-12-09T15:56:00.001-08:00

Today was my last day of classes for the semester!

Before I complete my finals for Fall 2009 I must finish:

1 Essay

1 Project

2 Tests

Almost there. This sprint will be tiring.

How I Feel

2009-12-07T22:40:00.000-08:00

Generic
Curious
Scared
Inspired
Unconfident
Eager
Lost
Loved
Boring
Special
Unaware
Hurried
Controlled
Free
Ready

I am a Dove

2009-12-06T12:44:00.000-08:00

Jonny had a basketball tournament in Portland this week. The WWU Wolves won 2 of their 3 games. Yay! After Jonny's game on Friday afternoon we were in the car driving to his brother's house. It was about 30 degrees outside and 85 in the car. The heat and use of energy while playing what South Park and I enjoy calling 'shooty-hoops' made Jonny very sleepy. As he was reclined in the passenger seat while half asleep we had the following conversation:

Me: "You're cute."

Him: "You're cuter."

Me: "You're more handsome."

Him: "You're my dove."

Me: "What does that mean?"

Him: "Doves don't get lost."

Me: "Really? Is that so?"

Him: "They don't get lost and they're squeaky clean."

Me: "If you say so."

Him: "I love you."

Me: "I love you too."

I don't completely understand what Jonny was talking about. I don't think he understands either. I told him about the conversation later and he had no recollection of it.

At Lunch With Dad

2009-12-02T16:27:00.000-08:00

Today, like every Monday, Wednesday or Friday, I ate lunch with my dad in his office. At some point during our conversation he proclaimed:

"Gah. I hate talking to her. She's just so weird."

I'm just glad he wasn't talking about me. I will not reveal who he was talking about. He will appreciate that.

Two Weeks

2009-12-01T22:13:00.000-08:00

I hope I can make it through the next two weeks. December 15 marks my last final and the start of my Christmas Vacation. I feel as though I could sleep from now until then.

By The Way

2009-11-26T11:11:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wish List Winter 2009

2009-11-26T11:05:00.000-08:00

Here are a few things that interest me at the moment. If you desire to send me some love this holiday, hugs and kisses are always the best, but material things sometimes work too.

1. Reef Dream Weaver Sandal | In Brown, size 7.5

2. A solid colored scarf like this | Preferably in cobalt blue (or what Nordstrom calls "skydive") or cream

3. An FM transmitter for my iPod so I can listen to music in the car!

4. Converse 'Jack Purcell' White Leather Sneaker | Size 7.5

5. VS Yoga Pant | Size Small, 32" inseam, black on black

6. Audrey Hepburn Boxed DVD Set

7. "Tuesdays With Morrie"

8. "Leadership and Self Deception"

9. Fossil Watch | Analog Silver dial with purple band [Cute, but low in priority]

Music:

10. Arcade Fire "Neon Bible"

11. Angus & Julia Stone "A Book Like This"

12. M. Ward "Post War"

13. Mates of State "Team Boo", "Wavespeech", or "Bring it Back"

14. Passion Pit

15. Phoenix

16. Homemade Mix CDs

17. Colorblind Soldiers Demo CD

18. Coldplay or Mates of State concert tickets : ) [Or any concert tickets]

Other things I like / Cheaper gift ideas:

1. Nail polish

2. Socks

3. iTunes gift cards

4. Starbucks gift cards

5. Earrings

6. Burt's Bees replenishing lip balm with pomegranate oil

7. Anything from Bath and Body Works

8. Books

9. Clothes

10. Movies

11. Art supplies

Do not be surprised if over the next month I add things to the list.

Happy Holidays!

Ingredients for a Fabulous Day Before Thanksgiving Baking Session

2009-11-25T22:37:00.000-08:00

Ingredients for a Fabulous Day Before Thanksgiving Baking Session:

6 hours

4 girls [Anelisse left before the photos were taken]

4 packets of Ramen for dinner

1 pinch of magazines

1 dash of photo albums filled with pictures from grade school

3 child-sized aprons

1 photo shoot using Photo Booth on a MacBook

1 fully-equipped kitchen

Enough ingredients to bake:

50 mini pumpkin cupcakes with chocolate frosting

1 batch of peanut butter fudge treats

2 batches of pumpkin pie bars

Marshmallows make us want to dance.

Taryn | Meilani | Katie | Anelisse [In spirit]

Shopoholic

2009-11-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

I went to way too many stores today. But I did enjoy some nice bonding time with my mother. Shopping is much more enjoyable than writing an essay, so I am pleased with how I spent today. Even though my feet hurt, by back is sore and I'm absolutely exhausted. Who knew walking around for 7 hours could be so tiring? Good thing after my classes are out tomorrow I will be able to sleep for 4 days straight.

Fashion Nightmare

2009-11-23T21:05:00.000-08:00

This past Thursday I found myself engrossed in the show Project Runway. I have not watched this show consistently in the past, but I discovered that there was a marathon leading up to the season 6 finale and was intrigued. I also discovered that I had much less homework to do than expected. So, for the majority of the day I sat on the couch trying desperately to pay attention to the Descartes book I was reading for school, but was inescapably distracted by the drama and beauty of Project Runway.

That night I lay in bed, restless and unable to drift into a deep sleep. At approximately 3:30 A.M. I caught myself thinking:

"What am I going to design for this next challenge? I should probably get up and start making some sketches! All the other contestants have already completed their sketches. I can't believe I'm so behind!!! I should have already started sewing my dress. There is no way I'm going to finish my design in time! There is no time for sleeping or sketching, I need to be sewing! But I don't know how to sew!!! This is going to be so embarrassing! What am I going to do? I can't just leave the show. I need to complete something! How am I going to do that without knowing how to sew?!?"

It was terrible. I was forced into exhaustion and stress by a television show. I am no longer sure that marathons are a great idea, even if the show is extremely entertaining.

Above are two designs by the Project Runway Season 6 winner that I like quite a bit. If you want more fashion and are tempted to have a similar nightmarish experience as I had, click this link for everything Project Runway.