Cafeteria Mystery

Yesterday, I made a delightful discovery in my Yuck-atan meat. Animal intestine.

No, I can't verify for sure. But with the FDA generally in favor of the consumer, I probably could have classified it as a rabbit intestine and claimed a healthy settlement... Whimsicalness aside, I do feel violated. It was certainly not a noodle as hypothesized by Molly (besides, my dish was supposed to be Yucatan mean, not Yucatan noodles). And it was relatively rubbery in texture, with a definitive intestine-like structure. My theory -- I came very close to eating the innards of some small mammal.

Hopefully not to the avail of a future victim, I did not report this discovery... Mostly because I wasn't entirely certain what I was looking at. And also because you can't expect much from a school cafeteria. But I'll be darned if it wasn't an intestine.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Thanksgiving crime

Reflections on Thanksgiving:

I have decided (well, it's more an enlightenment than a decision) to take control of Thanksgiving next year. Why take on such a daunting task? One answer -- leftovers. My family has begun to adopt a nasty habit of only making enough food for us to enjoy on Thanksgiving day. Need I remind them that while the whole world is frantically shopping at their overcrowded destinations on Black Friday, I would rather continue the Thanksgiving feast. Indeed it is a glorious experience -- turkey and cranberries on rolls for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's only American.

But the heinous crime of them all is the dwindling portions of stuffing that have showered injustice upon my family the past couple of years. That bird is indeed essential to any Thanksgiving meal, but the stuffing is the adhesive that supports the entire meal. The amount of stuffing that was served to my family this Thursday was the final straw to break the camel's back.

So I have resolved to participate more extensively in the Thanksgiving preparation next year that will ensure we do not experience this continuing recession of one of the biggest reasons the holidays are really worth anyone's time.

That being said, I cannot conclude without expressing my deepest and most sincere gratitude for the meal that was provided for this Thanksgiving and the family with whom I was able to share it.

(Rachel, I posted twice in day, in honor of you)

'shroom shoot (it's not what you think)

It was a strange occurrence today -- I found growing in the grass on the lawn in my parent's backyard three oddly deformed yet dear little mushrooms. It's not everyday you see these fungal friends, but they have indeed always fascinated me. I remember them being more prevalent at the house we lived in when I was younger so it was a pleasant little trip down memory lane. If it were possible, I think I would grow my own mushroom garden...

Would that make me a smurf...?

for a good cause

rachel said she would design a background for my blog if i posted every day. she thinks i can't do it. well rachel, here's post number one.

boo ya.


ok.... maybe i can't post EVERY day, but more often is better than my current pace. so start designing yo.

my new toy

Today I went to Carlsbad with my family to visit my grandmother for her birthday & we ended up picking through the remains of a community garage sale they were having in her mobile home park. And it just so happened this beach-worn tricycle cruiser was still up for grabs (guess it kinda makes sense considering its location in a senior citizen mobile home park). I've seen someone else on campus with one of these crazy trikes and was so excited to find my own. And because I can never find any better luck than at garage sales, I got the bike for $25 and we found an exact tire match for the front tire that cost another 50 cents.

So this will be my "project" for the next couple weeks. Unfortunately, I'm no 60's neighborhood boy who can pick apart a bike and do basic mechanical work on it. . . then again, I don't really know how to do anything with it. So, I'll be putting Woodcrest Bicycle Center to use to see if they can't fix the gears, perhaps find a replacement basket, and other little maintenance tid-bits on it. And I am still in the process of thinking of a better color to paint it. I'm still trying to go with the beachy look. . . so maybe a light blue?

facebook event

i recently created my very first facebook event... here are my observations:

a. the only people who post on the wall are people who "feel bad" about not being able to make it. i guess that's sorta the guilty cover-up? i'm just saying...

b. if you're "maybe-attending" you're not really attending.

c. if you've at least committed to not come, everyone can see. but don't let that keep you from feeling bad.

so this thing i've been into...

This summer I acquired a new hobby. Indoor rock climbing. Quite honestly, it's a very soothing and tension-releasing sport . . . well, until the day after when you're sore like the dickens. But it's been enjoyable, hanging out with friends, trying to hit new routes, pushing myself both physically and mentally to complete a climb. And it's one of the most unintimidating sports I've tried. There are the beginners and the experts . . . but the pressure to "be the best or go home" is void. It's simply a place to enjoy the thrill of completing a climb, encouraging your friends to press on, and watching the skill and grace of those with more advanced talent.

Although I've enjoyed the newly opened Hangar18 inRiverside, so much so that I acquired their discounted month membership, I'd still have to give the majority of my credit to Thresh Hold. Promo nights and a relaxed atmosphere. . . I'm pretty hooked :o) And my goal this semester - get everyone as addicted to rock climbing.

for no particular reason

Alas, I have nothing important to blog about. . . but it has been a long time overdue, and I'm in the mood to get my blogger fix. Some random tid-bits are in order:

To begin. . . I've spent the last week here in Redding, California for a long-awaited visit to see Melissa. My flight into Santa Rosa (Mel had attended a wedding there the night before) was an interesting experience. Although I feel it hardly worth mentioning, I indeed received my first "set of digits" from the fellow I sat next to on the plane. A sincerely friendly and polite senior from USC who was currently working towards obtaining his realtor's license, the owner of his own airplane (aside from the jet his father owned), and driver of a newer BMW, I must admit, it was charming and gave me a moment to relish in those "girly" feelings to have been considered a candidate to receive his number. Indeed, it is more the novelty of the occasion than actually possessing of the number that tickled me, and I thought it was a well-timed experience altogether.

Anyway, more importantly, it has been a very relaxing, nae, lazy week in which I've slept in longer than I thought was possible and have spent more time lounging than during the entirety of my summer. . . but I am in no way complaining! :) My most enjoyable day would probably be our visit to Burney Falls (speaking of "burn"ey, the entirety of Redding has been doomed to inherit the most horrendous blanket of smoke from the fires than continue to burn in the surrounding areas. It's like driving through a very thick fog at times. . . except that it's smoke and ash) . . . Anyways, an exceptional place, a kind of peaceful that is obtained through the roaring cascade of falling water, and the only little pocket of a considerably cooler temperature for miles in any direction. We enjoyed our picnic lunch at the base of the falls and then took a short, mile hike around the "Falls Loop." Aside from our trip to the falls, we also spent our week with a night of bowling, a trip to see Mama Mia, a handful of rented movies, and some intensely heated games of Rummy (I won't say who was often victorious).

Another review of mine which has been rekindled due to a recent viewing is of the movie, Charlie Barlett. In my opinion, the character Charlie Bartlet is a modernized version of Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (although I'd highly contest it to be an equal) and the movie possess artistic uniqueness and themes of human connection similar to that of Juno and Little Miss Sunshine. It has its traces of crude language and a brief moment of slightly discernible nudity, but overall, it's a summer flick that this novice movie critic would recommend.

As this final stretch of summer break closes in I am filled with mixed emotions. The time spent away from the fast-paced schedule of school and work has indeed been appreciated and I can tell it will be missed. However, I look forward to moving back on campus (into our cottage of nine girls. . . yikes) and beginning the boot-camp-like training for FOCUS. Thoughts and prayers for my group this coming semester have been a constant and it is beyond me to even comprehend what to expect. . . I think that's what makes it so exciting! I feel this summer has allowed me to makes significant changes and adjustments within myself at a non-pressured pace that will benefit me in the fall. This week in Redding has further opened my eyes to the beauty in pursuing my Christian womanhood and opening my heart up to the spontaneous wills and ways of the Lord. Although I still have so much to learn and accomplish, I am more determined to have a more central focus on the Lord, especially as I settle in for another long and demanding school year.

the original

Yesterday while shopping at the Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos I couldn't help but stop by the infamous, better-respect Pinkberry. So, for the sake of science I ordered my very first Pinkberry frozen yogurt to compare to (what was formerly known as) Swirl. Now, I have only had a total of one Swirl experience but I'll gladly give Pinkberry their credit -- indeed, a (decent-sized) portion of heaven. Now, the immediate downfall is that it is not self-serve and they only have 3 yogurt flavors: original, green tea, and coffee. Also, they don't have as many topping choices as Swirl; but I like my yogurt simple so that wasn't a disappointment for me. That being said, their most-commonly-ordered "original" flavor was one of the best, if not THE best yogurt my little taste buds have ever experienced. A fresh, very distinct, never-gets-old flavor that delightfully compliments the toppings I had (strawberries, kiwi, and granola) . . . Maybe I should be a food critic. And while you'll still pay enough money to constitute a meal, they give you enough for it to be just that.

Admittedly, Swirl gets the job done, and pretty well at that . . . But Pinkberry, you just might have a little place in my heart.

realities

I hoped to be sitting here writing about my so-far interesting Nebraska trip with my family... However, I can't deny the feeling that God has utilized an otherwise casual family vacation to cause me to come face-to-face with some spiritual realities.

The tears have steadily flowed today, and there's an ache in my heart that's about as intense as this Nebraskan humidity. Yet I have been able to conjure up enough emotional strength to cry, "Hug me Father. Hug me and hold me and don't let go until the hurt goes away." Ironically, the tears are further provoked by the immense unworthiness I feel for His love and the incomprehensible reality that, despite my flaws, He will do just that -- hold me and love me. Despite my faithlessness at times, my misguided attention, or my outright disobediences, I know I will not be left to endure alone. And that alone will bring an already broken girl even further to her knees.

If any time were right for a spiritual inquisition, this would be the week. Away from the comforts of home, friends, or anything familiar or consistent, I am left with only my family and God. And to keep from hampering my family's enjoyment I've had to further lean on God to find the strength needed to finish out this week. I suppose it's safe to say God's timing is terribly perfect.

Furthermore, the book I have taken along with me during this trip is John Piper's When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy. In it, John Piper talks about the necessity of finding joy in God because it is our spiritual duty. Although Melissa gave the book to me almost a year ago I've always found it difficult to get through it entirely. Until today I was under the false impression that I DO love God and do have joy in Him. But I think what I was missing was that my joy cannot be subjective to the highs or lows that come my way. If I truly desire Him and find delight in Him my joy outside of Him will be a more reliable constant. And right now, I feel the only joy I can truly experience IS the joy I find in Him, and it's a joy that is in need of much deeper searching on my part.

I hope that the remainder of my summer will be well spent investigating the person I am, spending alone-time doing evaluations of my strengths and weaknesses. I don't deny that the brokeness will continue, and the healing will take a while. But I feel determined to take God's challenge and I only pray the results will be life-changing.

obama lives at my house

The summer has brought with it the newest additions to the hen house. . . including the very latest, Obama.





I'd vote for him.

welcome me

. . . to blogger.

dedicated to those persistant, Eric and Rachel.