breast cancer

my mom has cancer. if you could pray for her and my dad that would be wonderful.

obama

So friday I was one of the 3000 people who didn't make it into key arena to see Obama - but I did get to see him when he came outside and spoke to the crowd wanting to get in! He only talked for maybe 5 or ten minutes, but it was awesome that he came out and addressed the crowd of people there to show their support even though we would miss his actual speech.
The speech itself was alright - not his best one, and a bit showy at times, but I was glad I got to hear it among a crowd of such strong supporters!
But then the next day I went a caucused for the first time (although down in seattle - not in snohomish, which Im not really sure if thats alright, but I couldn't make it all the way back, and as I am down there half the time anyways, I figured that Ive basically moved to that area...).
It was an interesting experience - and I didn't really know what to expect, but it was great to really feel like I was a part of the process, and hear members of the community talk about the candidates and debate a bit.

but here are some photos of the day:

this is how excited my friend david and I were for our first caucus
the rankings
and we went to the international school just north of lake union/ almost wallingford area and the place was packed! it was even more so on the other side of the room behind us
but it was a great day all around, not only did I caucus, but I tried duck for the first time, ate sushi, road a motorcycle out to magnison park, ran a few miles (which I still can believe we were actually able to do!) and watched the italian job - as well as just hung out. fabulous.

I will leave you with one parting picture:

this was the first duck I ever ate - I was too slow with the camera to get a picture while the head was still attached

so here is a little of what I researched today..

with the help of my friend jon (who originally is the one that got me curious - and first told me about it)

But apparently the first internet war is taking place at the moment, between the Church of Scientology and a group called Anonymous. (personally Im rooting for anonymous even if they are a little beyond creepy - well atleast at first they were, they seem to be evolving a bit)

but here is the video that Fox News did on them awhile ago:


and this is Anonymous's response (be prepared - this one is pretty creepy, the next ones aren't quite as much):


Then, after the Church of Scientology took the Tom Cruise video off their website (which that isn't the original - its a doctored one but that does have a few interesting tid-bits to offer), Anonymous basically shut down their website
So here is their next video:



then this is supposedly a response from the Church of Scientology (equally or even more creepy):


then this is the supposed third video from Anonymous (I say supposed simply because since its all anonymous its kind of hard to tell who is sending things - and this one seems to be a bit different than their first one with the response to Fox. So perhaps they are just changing in philosophy I dont know):


and there here is a call to action by them:


and also an example of a random anonymous group that protested in orlando - which its actually pertty interesting to see the Scientologists response:


but here are also some of more famous different cases that have come up against the Church of Scientology for things that they have done - murders, destroying people's identities, retaliations against investigation..:
Operation Freakout
Lisa McPherson


but there you go! let me know what you guys think and if you've heard of any of this before. and here is a link to the Anonymous blog - although again, I have no idea how official it is. but really, how official could it ever be?

and we're dancin' and it feels alright...

So last night I had the time of my life! I danced the night away here:
the Century Ballroom on capitol hill.
and while that definitely is not the style of dancing that we were doing - I loved the picture, and that is somewhat what the place looked like.
we salsa'd the night away, starting out with a lesson at 9 and then the dancing began at 9:30. and its was utterly fabulous. everyone there was there to dance, and had no fear in asking anyone to head out on the floor. I went into the night knowing nothing of how to salsa, but but the end I was spinning and twirling all over the place. my skirt was flying, and everyone was dancing... and they all would teach me different steps and so by the end of the night I could salsa, marangay (although I have no idea how to spell it), cha cha, and a couple other dances that I have no idea what the names of them are. I couldn't tell you what music went with what, I was just following along, but at least i can follow a few different steps now!
so this not how I looked on the dance floor, but it was the first "salsa" picture I found (and thanks goodness I didn't have to wear an outfit like that one)
but I did definitely look like this! ;)
such a fabulous photo, and well, maybe I didn't look exactly like that...
but I did however do this throughout the night:
and I probably had a grin on my face to match hers. the first couple times I was a bit afraid I was going to get dropped, but I never was and it ended up just being a lot of fun. The mexican guys were best at it though - they would even hold your head as they dipped you so your neck wasn't strained. with some people their dancing was more like doing certain steps (like me..) and then there were others who dancing was just in their blood - it was so natural to them that it was amazing to watch. I could have just watched some of the dancers for hours. ahhh so much fun. and I guess there is also a place down the street that is smaller, called Halo, where it is less crowded and even more awesome - so Dipa and I are trying to decided when to go there too. basically EVERYONE needs to go salsa. right, now.

Welcome!

welcome to my blog! hope you enjoy, and feel free to comment and say hi (I definitely love it) - but if you have a blog let me know what it is so I can say hi back!

i need to get some more winter photos...


p.s. happy new year to everyone!

2008 - first post

so, I realize its been awhile... and Ive become a terrible blogger! i honestly didn't see it coming. but life got so busy, and I became so busy just living it that I forgot to write about it any more - so sorry for my long silences. cant promise Ill be better this year... but well... yeah... ;)
and now that I am not in school and around computers as much (or to use to kill time on between classes...), I almost forgot about the blogging world! (crazy I know!) but since i have now remembered the wonderfulness of this space, its time for a post!

but looking back on 2007 - I know alot of people didn't have the best time in 2007 - but it was a pretty good year for me. definitely filled with its share of ups and downs, and in such different areas of life too, but overall, a good year that I am very thankful for!

this year was filled with extreme changes in emotion,
new relationships,
new close friends,
a whole new group of friends to now enjoy life with as well as the old,
finally letting some relationships go,
new experiences - examples of sailing and backpacking..
trying some new things that I probably shouldn't..
losing some innocence but also some ignorance
seeing amazing movies
scary health issues
being so busy that there was no time for sleep
living a nomadic existence
wonderful roommates as well as some not as great ones,
some awesome living locations
a new car
being turned down for disney
(nearly) graduating
tons of weddings
questioning a lot
learning a lot about life and myself
loving people more and devoting all my time to them (well, basically - there were obviously some other things in there too.. but all the spare time at least)
trying to do everything possible and actually learning to enjoy life to the fullest
- and along with that, trying to actually live in every moment; focusing on that moment (although this definitely can go too far as well)
focusing more on experience rather than knowledge (not sure if this one is good or bad too - but i mean it more as experiencing things rather than learning things as much)
appreciating everything more - when you think you wont have it for much longer, you really do
lots of 1.50 hot dogs
strange working environment
many many sleep overs
lots of popcorn
nature
rediscovering my love for animals
trying to learn to be accepting of change, and then figuring out how to deal with it
attempting to find balance in my new extreme extroversion
realizing a greater need for christian community and environment - and time spent with God in general
moving, a lot
many new cloths
realizing how amazing friends can be
new areas of study
and becoming more open minded in general


that was a longer list than anticipated, but I think the one thing that stands out the most about this past year was friends. and that, was also the greatest part about it too - so therefore, 2007 I am going to count as a fabulous year. tumultuous - but fabulous!

7 medical myths

I saw this article on yahoo.com this morning, and thought it was interesting so here you are! I knew I couldn't possibly really be expected to drink 8 glasses of water a day.


In the British Medical Journal this week, researchers looked into several common misconceptions, from the belief that a person should drink eight glasses of water per day to the notion that reading in low light ruins your eyesight.

"We got fired up about this because we knew that physicians accepted these beliefs and were passing this information along to their patients," said Dr. Aaron Carroll, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine. "And these beliefs are frequently cited in the popular media."

And so here they are, so that you can inform your doctor:

Myth: We use only 10 percent of our brains.

Fact: Physicians and comedians alike, including Jerry Seinfeld, love to cite this one. It's sometimes erroneously credited to Albert Einstein. But MRI scans, PET scans and other imaging studies show no dormant areas of the brain, and even viewing individual neurons or cells reveals no inactive areas, the new paper points out. Metabolic studies of how brain cells process chemicals show no nonfunctioning areas. The myth probably originated with self-improvement hucksters in the early 1900s who wanted to convince people that they had yet not reached their full potential, Carroll figures. It also doesn't jibe with the fact that our other organs run at full tilt.

Myth: You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

Fact: "There is no medical evidence to suggest that you need that much water," said Dr. Rachel Vreeman, a pediatrics research fellow at the university and co-author of the journal article. Vreeman thinks this myth can be traced back to a 1945 recommendation from the Nutrition Council that a person consume the equivalent of 8 glasses (64 ounces) of fluid a day. Over the years, "fluid" turned to water. But fruits and vegetables, plus coffee and other liquids, count.

Myth: Fingernails and hair grow after death.

Fact: Most physicians queried on this one initially thought it was true. Upon further reflection, they realized it's impossible. Here's what happens: "As the body’s skin is drying out, soft tissue, especially skin, is retracting," Vreeman said. "The nails appear much more prominent as the skin dries out. The same is true, but less obvious, with hair. As the skin is shrinking back, the hair looks more prominent or sticks up a bit."

Myth: Shaved hair grows back faster, coarser and darker.

Fact: A 1928 clinical trial compared hair growth in shaved patches to growth in non-shaved patches. The hair which replaced the shaved hair was no darker or thicker, and did not grow in faster. More recent studies have confirmed that one. Here's the deal: When hair first comes in after being shaved, it grows with a blunt edge on top, Carroll and Vreeman explain. Over time, the blunt edge gets worn so it may seem thicker than it actually is. Hair that's just emerging can be darker too, because it hasn't been bleached by the sun.

Myth: Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight.

Fact: The researchers found no evidence that reading in dim light causes permanent eye damage. It can cause eye strain and temporarily decreased acuity, which subsides after rest.

Myth: Eating turkey makes you drowsy.

Fact: Even Carroll and Vreeman believed this one until they researched it. The thing is, a chemical in turkey called tryptophan is known to cause drowsiness. But turkey doesn't contain any more of it than does chicken or beef. This myth is fueled by the fact that turkey is often eaten with a colossal holiday meal, often accompanied by alcohol — both things that will make you sleepy.

Myth: Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals.

Fact: There are no known cases of death related to this one. Cases of less-serious interference with hospital devices seem to be largely anecdotal, the researchers found. In one real study, mobile phones were found to interfere with 4 percent of devices, but only when the phone was within 3 feet of the device. A more recent study, this year, found no interference in 300 tests in 75 treatment rooms. To the contrary, when doctors use mobile phones, the improved communication means they make fewer mistakes.

I saw this one jamie's blog, and they were talking about it at her b-day bash, so here goes

ENFP
The Inspirer

You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends.
You are also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority and rules.
Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives.
You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're quite the storyteller!

In love, you are quite the charmer. And you are definitely willing to risk your heart.
You often don't follow through with your flirting or professed feelings. And you do break a lot of hearts.

At work, you are driven but not a workaholic. You just always seem to enjoy what you do.
You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist.

How you see yourself: compassionate, unselfish, and understanding

When other people don't get you, they see you as: gushy, emotional, and unfocused

What's Your Personality Type?

then the second time I changed a few things I was wavering on..

You Are An ESFJ

The Caregiver You are sympathetic and caring, putting friends and family first. A creature of habit, you prefer routines and have trouble with change. You love being in groups - whether you're helping people or working on a project. You are good at listening, laughing, and bringing out the best in people. In love, you value harmony and mutual understanding. You will apologize or give someone the benefit of the doubt, if it means getting over a fight sooner. At work, you are good at building relationships and connecting with people. You would make a great nurse, social worker, or teacher. How you see yourself: Organized, dependable, co-operative When other people don't get you, they see you as: Opinionated, critical, and know-it-all

What's Your Personality Type?

hmm...

the Rescue Camp - cure for web obsession

Check this out. I wonder when they will create this in america, and when I will have to sign myself up

LOL

so i saw this on christie's blog and had to put it on here. she got a G rating - all audiences welcome - but parents, beware of mine!

mwahahahahahahhaa

Dallas Dating

hahahahahaaaa - oh man, I busted up laughing with this one. and they even give their reasons on the site for why they rate it the way they do:

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:

• sex (2x)
• punch (1x)

so basically, I am now going to see if I can boost my rating to the next level....

sex
sex
sex
sex
sex
sexy
sex
punch
hit
punch
punch
punch
punch
sex
punch
boob
puke
puke
puke
vomit
slaughter
carnage
death
death
death
sex
sex
sex
death
fart
hurt
hurt
punch
punch
punch

I have a serious addiction to the internet

and especially to facebook - ahhhhhhhhh

not good for homework!

so here are some fall photos for your viewing enjoyment

for the second part of my birthday we went to Traxx in mukilteo to race go-carts
it was stinking amazing - we felt so awesomely hiped afterward - this is our "we are extremely hard core" pic
then I went on a recent trip to spokane to visit my friend jon
and pumpkin patching in snohomish with david during homecoming weekend

those are some of my favorite photos from my more recent shinnanigans - although Ill save a separate post for meeting Bill Clinton

Welcome!

ok, so its true - its no longer summer, but fall. I guess I had to face it sometime...
I am in school, and its killing me, but Im almost done... the light at the end of the tunnel is near, and I am EXCITED for it.
But I still am a bit unsure as to what will come afterward - where I will go and what I will be doing - which is a bit stressful at the moment, but hopefully will work itself out soon!
as to the rest of life, sorry for the lack of posts - and for doing this to you now - but hopefully that will come soon!

it is SO windy today!

and I LOVE it! ahh, I just walked across red square grinning so that my spit was being blown across my face (not intentionally - and I tried to stop once that started) but the wind feels like it is at least double the strength, or maybe 3 or 4 times stronger than when standing on the front of the mukilteo ferry, and it was literally blowing me sideways!

a true "adventure on the way to class" - in the words of tim vanoss

When I walked into my quiz section at 1:30, my TA was facing the windows behind where we were sitting and when 2 o'clock hit, noticed the wind start billowing through the tree branches outside. which apparently that was when the wind storm was predicted to hit - so way to go washington weathermen! they were right on. and man is it awesome. Our TA was the one who had heard about the wind storm, and he got all excited when it hit right then - it was great.

I tried to google "wind" and "red sqare" as my blog has been seriously lacking in the picture department lately, and this popped up:
a climbers guide to the university range

pure awesomeness

I just leared how to ride a motercycle!!

well, the very basics anyway - but it was AWESOME

Tea & Sympathy

Soooo, sorry for the long silence, there is much to post but im not going to at the moment. I will have to try and catch up someday later on all the things i would love to tell you about and post pictures of, but today - is just going to be another outpouring of busy craziness.

lately I have been feeling like the most scatterbrained and space casey person, and just now on the phone with a friend I just realized that it might actually have a reason. my hypothesis is that I have just too much to focus on and as a result haven't been able to really focus on anything!

someone at work the other day was talking about people who complain about working part time while in school, saying that he worked 40 hours a week all through school, and they have no right - so sorry if you take that opinion, because I am going to tell you why im tired and complain about working part time ;)

first off, I am not living down here in an apartment or house - I am living in snohomish with my parents and commuting down, or I am staying at a friends house in madrona. the main reason for doing this is that I am most likely moving to florida in january and didn't want to sign a lease anywhere (and most likely couldn't) as well as wanted to spend time with my family since Ill be leaving them for who knows how long in just a few months. But, as things turn out, the commute is an hour and a half each way. So I leave snohomish at 8 in the morning to get there by my 9:30 class. Then in the evenings, the earliest bus that goes back to everett where I catch the bus from is at 7 in the evening, although usually there is something going on so I might get an even later start than that. Then when I stay with my friend in madrona I do get to enjoy an hour more of sleep, but I also have to bike 40 minutes to get to class - and in seattle, that is not always the funnest experience. I am so appreciative for being able to stay with her there, but its not exactly comfortable. I live in guest room in the basement, and if you know me very well, you know that I have a bit of a phobia of living in basements as well as toward spiders, of which there are plenty at this house. and BIG ones. then, she also has two dogs that are her babies. meaning that they are allowed on the furniture and all over the house. so basically the only place I want to sit is at the dinner table, sometimes in the computer chair, or on the bed in the really cold and very dark basement. Also, this house is not the best for studying as I am staying with a friend and feel somewhat obligated to study near her or eat dinner with her - which I love doing because she is an awesome girl, but doesn't exactly make for the easiest studying environment. But II also cant stay at school until really late to study because I generally ride home with her, and we try to do it before dark - which it is getting dark considerably earlier these days. Driving to school takes the same amount of time due to traffic and finding a parking spot, and while considerably more comfortable and convenient, I cant afford the gas money. So thats why I bike.

Then, my classes themselves are a royal pain in the butt. I have 13 different books I am reading this quarter - not short novels, but books and textbooks (ok, there is one shorter novel). but I am to read at least 400 pages a week. not happening. I have exams - not quizzes, but full out, hour long, blue book exams every monday, two research papers, a presentation, and weekly essays, as well as your normal exams and quizzes to study for.

Then there is the fact that I also couldn't afford all my books this quarter - with trying to save for my trip to florida (I know it will cost me atleast 500 dollars just in gas - plus Ill have insurance to buy once I get down there) - but they have be fortunately put on reserve at the library so I can use them, but only in the library.

I also am still working at peet's on greenlake - which is pretty much out of the way from everything and anywhere I am coming from - about 15 to 20 hours a week. I desperately need the job in order to save for florida and just pay for general living expenses like food and gas, as well as other just plain needs that must be met - but it costs me a ton in gas just to get there all the time. not to mention that I am always scheduled early shifts on the weekends when I am definitely at home and have to commute and hour both ways to get there. which for the sometimes 4 or 5 hour shifts they give me, is a considerable investment in gas and time for a small gain in income... but not too much to be done there but complain. so sorry, thats what Im doing.

I also really wanted to be working out again. I mean I definitely want to be in shape, but I also feel like its just good for your health to be exercising - and with how tired I feel all the time, I think it would be good for making me feel more energized. I definitely wanted to try and get involved in some sports here during my last quarter of ever being able to, as well as take some classes at the ima - but I dont really think thats going to be an option for me sadly.

Then there is the simple fact that I am moving to florida in january with no scheduled return date. I am looking at these two months as my possible last months living in seattle for quite some time. Now think of all the things you would want to do, as well as all the people you would want to see, and the places you would want to go if you were to move away possibly for a very long time or forever. then try and fit it around an already hectic schedule. With me, people are the most important thing in my life. they didn't use to be - when I was younger I was actually a bit more of an introvert. Im not exactly sure when the change happened but probably when I went to either australia or disney and experienced such amazing times with people and building such amazing relationships that I came to realize thats the only thing truly important to me. So I also am trying to see and hang out with people as much as possible, and will definitely try and re-arrange everything to get to them when possible. But the bad thing about now being an extrovert, is that I really hate not being around people and hearing from friends, and it has a total effect on my mood and happiness - which is actually something i am trying to work on and not be so dependent over, but im definitely not very good at it.

then there is also my relationship with God that I am trying and needing to spend time on. which sounds terrible to list here along with my list of busyness, but I definitely need it - and I need lots of time for it as well as lots of time for more bible studies and meetings. I just know that I personally need those - as I need the fellowship and accountablilty. I must make time for them because they help me keep more on track - and when the majority of your close friends, or the friends you hang out with regularly with are not christians, it is especially important.

as for the things I still need to do and haven't yet even started on, those are mostly related to medical needs and the fact that I am moving to florida in january and wont have any insurance. I need to go to the dentist, visit dermatologists, go get a physical at some point, and Im sure do other things im not thinking of at the moment before i am off insurance for awhile. But going to the doctor, or especially the dentist, when you are on the student insurance is not an easy process. it involves countless visits to the billing office, research, and calling all over the place to get everything in order and even just make the appointments. So while I need to do it, I am dreading it and really dont want to have to spend the time.
That, i am just going to have to suck up and do though - probably this week.

however, there has been one item of business that is now done - and it is that I now have everything in from my end for disney. I turned in all my resumes and cover letters, filled out all the applications and answered all the questions, and now must simple wait for the response. I certainly hope that I get it.

All this to say, that I am stressed and tired and need a weekend with some time off. but sadly, its just not possible. I am having to take "me time" and rest or de-stress just whenever I can, and when I do that it unfortunately really just seems like procrastination (which really it is) and the weight never leaves, as well as I just get worse at procrastinating.

end

I googled snohomish serpentine and...

check it out, my high school is in wikipedia

Snohomish High School


this year homecoming (and serpentine) is on October 26th - and as I am in the state, im going! Im excited to go see it again before I move to florida - I love living in a small town that has 100 year old traditions

Welcome!

I am definitely in the midst of one of the most amazing summers of my life - hopefully Ill get the chance to really post about it! if not now, then soon!

our free hug day - the seattle version

it was definitely one of the most amazing and awesome things Ive ever done. everyone who saw us smiled - and we definitely got over 300 hugs in the hour and a half/ two hours we were out there.
our first hugs were an elderly couple we saw on the way to the bus downtown. then once we got there, things started off slowly...
but quickly gathered momentum
this is us heading toward westlake
i wish we had more pictures, but we were just out there to hug, and were busy at it! there were so many people who took our picture though, and so many who wanted their picture taken with us too. we are actually going to try and google it and see if we can find some of them
and this is definitely one of my favorite hugs of the day. a mom came up to us with her two daughters who were about 2 and 4, and david and I got down on our knees and we had a big group hug

we even got a hug from a cop - which was one of our goals, and the other main one was to get someone in a car - which we also did! I ran out to the middle of the street to get some one in a jeep, and loc got a woman in a car right before we went into McCormick's for dinner!

(loc, david, me)

some of my other favorite hugs of the day were a jogger that saw loc from down the block and yelled "this is going to be a fast one!" then ran towards us and hugged loc and then kept on running, a guy who tackled david from behind in a huge hug (the signs were double sided), and then my absolute favorite was a business woman in her forties who saw us from the corner and just held her arms out to us and walked toward us as we walked over to her and all three of us hugged her at once! it was spectacular. and there was a little old man sitting across pike place (perhaps homeless - I dont really know) who saw us and started reaching out to us from across the street and I just ran over and hugged him - and that was a great one too! There were people who would hug us and we could just feel that they really needed it, and then there were others who laughingly hugged us and were just going along for the ride. there were of course alot of rejections too - but as time went on we started being able to tell in people's faces who would and who wouldn't. it was the greatest - we would just start holding out our arms toward people and say "free hug" and they would say "ok" and give in. and everyone was smiling, and enjoyed our being there so much - we truly brightened their days! there were some people who thought we were crazy too, and those who definitely didn't want it, but man, overall it was a great and rewarding day. so extremely awesome.

p.s. if you haven't watched that video yet, you really should. I had the song stuck in my head the whole time, and everything just fit. ahhhhhhhhhhhh. so wonderful

Free Hugs Day!

Today - September 10th 2007 - is Free Hugs Day!

no, I am not making this up, if you want to see the real story, watch this video - its utterly amazing and I nearly cry everytime I watch it. It truely makes me want to go out and spread some love to people around seattle, and tomorrow we are going to. Its going to be a day of carrying signs, and giving hugs, and just spreading some love downtown. I want to invite anyone and everyone to join in where ever you may be tomorrow! or, if the inspiration strikes you, some other day as well, there can never be too much of this.

here is the vid - its about 3 min long, and I guarantee you that it will be an awesome three minutes that you will be glad you didn't spend looking at anything else.




(p.s. sorry about the blog silence! Ill post on some of the recent happenings again soon. its been a really busy, but fabulous, few weeks!)

PR presentation

So today I gave my final presentation for my PR writing class. It actually went much better than anticipated! I truly hate giving presentations, and all the normal signs happened for me today (starting to shake about an hour beforehand, my voice wavering so badly I sound like im about to cry throughout the whole thing, and the typical blanking out during part of it), but what I was saying was actually flowing much better than normal, and it felt like I was just talking about what I had done much more than giving a presentation on it - so that was great. Plus, my uncle and cousin came for it! I was representing Push International, a nonprofit that is devoted to distributing mobility aids and then providing training to help promote development in the disabled community that is self sustaining. (wow that was a bit of a run on sentence, but I dont really feel like fixing such things on the blog) Its actually really amazing what they do - and Ive loved learning more about it while doing this campaign. I really should have known much more about it before as my cousin is one of its founders and my uncle is chairman of the board, but hey, better late than never right? Plus, they could tell I was really nervous and were just making me laugh and making light of everything. basically, they were great. I was even more stressed in the beginning too because I wasn't done putting everything together yet, and it definitely didn't look very finalized - but everything went fine. I am glad its over - but I am still really siked about the organization and I do really want to help them, writing press releases or promotional letters or something in the future. One down, one more presentation to go - tomorrow. and man, I REALLY cant wait for that one to be done.

today, I really really really want to be in florida...

I just looked up disneyworld again on google maps. did you know that they have all the streets listed that are off limits to guests? they also have the names of all of them - which I never even knew they had names! I know they must have just gone an contacted a pr person after looking at satellite pictures - because who would know these things? they aren't normal streets.
i miss it
today I just want to be done with school, moved out and down there, and working. I am so very tired of this, and miss the magic

Welcome!

its summer, and I am making the most of it!

summertime pictures

so these are mostly pictures from sailing, but there are also a few randoms thrown in of other summertime shenanigans
these are my sailing buddies david and alex, and jeff, the one who is teaching us to sail, is in the background. this is on our first sailing trip ever

I got a new camera phone - the first one ive ever had - and was a bit excited to use it when I realized that I had left my camera in the car. unfortunately though, it made everything look a bit blueish
then these are from the day alex and I decided to try and hike tiger mountain - I say tried, because we went up the first mile, were really tired, and got a bit sidetracked. there are the most amazing rock caves if you take a side trail about halfway up..
























then back to sailing! this is david, about to drop the anchor
alex and I staring off into the sunset







and then it has now become a bit of a tradition to go out for dinner (or atleast drinks) afterward, and this night we went to mona's on 65th (which is REALLY a great place) and then decided to go on a walk around greenlake. we had some fun at the boat rentals

blog silence - the summer catch up

(maybe Ill add some pictures to this later - if not, then perhaps i'll do a post of the summer in pictures so far)

so i realize the blog has been a bit silent ever since summer started, so sorry about that, but its been a busy one! Im in school over the summer, taking two classes on public relations - which I am actually enjoying. if only my severe procrastination and complete senioritis (my lack of desire toward anything school related) didn't get in the way...

So I am in class three days a week (tuesday, wednesdays and thursday), then I am also working at peets, and on top of that just trying to make the most of what could potentially be my last summer in seattle for awhile. its been insane so far too just trying to fit everything in! I dont really know where the time goes, but im always busy. there are just too many people to hang out with, too many things to do, too many weddings, too many bridal showers, too many people I want to go visit... and this ends up in there being too many days that I miss going to the beach, too much homework on certain days (and nights..), too many weeks going by without seeing my family, and too many days that go by without seeing certain friends. Ive been scheduling everything out on my calender, but I think I also need to start making a list of all the things I am trying and wanting to do so I dont miss anything, and all the people I need to try to get together with.

one of my recent new activities is sailing. a couple friends and I now started sailing every wednesday evening from about 5 till 9:30 - and its been really awesome so far. these same two friends I am also having up to my parent's house this coming weekend (Im house sitting with ingrid while the rest of our family is in southern california seeing our old horse and going to disneyland - cruel? yes, a bit). I promised to teach them to ride horses this summer, and this is the first time that Ive been able to really fit anything in, and I think it will work out perfectly! I am also hoping to go on a backpacking trip with them at the end of the summer, so in the midst of everything else, I am wanting to try and get at least somewhat in shape and out hiking a little bit so I dont die. (the other two are actually training for this - I really am going to die if I cant get out and do something physical with them before we go) and t-rock vanoss might be coming with us too (as our expert backpacking guide) - which would be awesome!

I think Im just going to make that list on here, so here's the list of things I need to do not on the schedule:
*hang out with rachel
*plan the rest of kira's bridal shower (and if anyone who reads this has great shower ideas - please email me some at erika_stolle at yahoo)
*go visit jon
*meet up with karen
*hike
*sandboarding trip to oregon
*go to jetty island
*go downtown for returns
*do my resume - apply to disney - call ryan - call mike
*to advisers about my minor
*dentist - and find out billing information
*see paula
*learn thriller


cant think of anything alse at the moment thank goodness, Im sure the list will grow, but I hope I also knock some off too!

and then lately I have also been learning and thinking alot about the difference between nice people and good people. and it has really struck me how much this really plays into things. It has been especially relevant with people at work. There are some really nice people there, but that I have come to realize are not good. I have lost alot of respect for one of them in particular lately based on what their actions have been, and I really haven't been able to overcome it yet. I actually despise them in some ways. But the thing is, they are very nice - so its the kind of thing you wouldn't expect at first. and this has really been teaching me alot of caution when it comes to relationships.

There was a girl I was talking with last night who works with me and just saw her ex again after 2 years and is thinking about hanging out/being with him again, and we got to talking about our own natures, and the natures of girls and guys. She was talking about being more in control of things this time, and one thing that I said was that I think girls tend to lose it when it comes to relationships. We are stronger at first - and we have alot of strength in the caution that we approach the relationship in, and can really scrutinize it before it really starts, but then once we get into it I think that the girls generally lose it. so one of the things I asked her was if he was a good guy, and if she was willing to lose that control and get lost in emotions to someone who wasn't (if he wasn't). I think that guys tend to have much more strength and ability to pull back once in a relationship than girls. (of course, not always the case) but this conversation, along with the other things happening with people there has really made me start looking at people differently.
I had thought it was a christian and non-christian thing, and that certainly has an effect sure, but its more than that. (atleast in my mind at this stage of thought) because I have strong christian friends that atleast to my scrutiny, I wouldn't consider 'good' - and I'd wondered what it was about these people that made them so unattractive to me - and maybe this whole things is very dangerous labeling people good or not, but I know christian guys (and girls) who I would label strong in their beliefs yet not necessarily good. they are like the christian pimp - objectifying the other sex, seeing pictures of women (or men) and just talking about how hot they are, or always expressing their desire to make out with the other sex - but then also being very strict in their beliefs in terms of purity and abstinence. i dont know, Im just rambling now - but its all just making me look at people and be very cautious. which is good for me. I need to be more aware - not less friendly or less loving at all, but I need to realize how long it takes and the real process and time it takes to really get to know people and find out their character, and if they are really good people. not nice, or awesome, or outgoing, or fun - but good people who make truly good friends and good relationships. and my experience so far has been that I meet more of these people as christians, but definitely not all - so maybe (and Ill be praying that this is so) these are people whom God has called and will bring to him, because I dearly desire for them to be in his kingdom with me. maybe this is a sign of an inward desire. perhaps they are seeking for something more and this is their fruit - I certainly hope its not just cultural (as those Im thinking of right now are a bit different culturally than me) but I really see them as good people. then again, maybe I just dont know them well enough yet.

it takes time to really see people, and Im now realizing that - I just hope I never stop loving them even when I do. I know that everyone lets you down and disappoints - I simply hope I can learn to love people even when they do. like this person from work - pray that God helps me to love them and not despise them for their actions anymore. I really do need to learn agape love.


annnnnd, my campus has been infested with youg'uns.
there are kids everywhere! the UW runs summer camps for all ages, so there are little kids that you see all walking around attached to their teacher by a string, then there are the middle schoolers who are part of the advanced programs and some of the sports programs, and then you have all the high schoolers who are also doing advanced programs, athletic programs and SAT and college prep. goodness. there are kids everywhere! and the sad things is, they are all still in their 'cool' stage and I really dont think being on a college campus helps them manage the size of their heads. the girls especially - my goodness, they all have 'the look' and 'the style' - it kills me! you are all so little still - why? go enjoy it. I know I must have been the same way, but man do I loath 'cool'.