Everything:infravermelho

for some reason blogger is being DUMB and not uploading all my pictures, so more to come!

I am...

about to do my laundry

waiting for a text message from Paul

uploading pictures from Allison's halloween party to my myspace

supposed to study for a history test

tired from a long day

in pain [stupid back]

happy.

My first day at Starbucks was... interesting, surprising, encouraging.

I was introduced to the company, offically "welcomed" and familiarized with the core values of Starbucks, etc. I was surprised by the emphasis on the mission statement. I knew that they were high on customer service and satisfaction, but they really want you to take a customer and turn their possibly bad day around, in a genuine way. Not like when you walk into PacSun and are greeted with a "hey hows it goin..." as the person continues to fold clothes. Not only that, but they want you to be happy with your work. They want you to strive for the best, and then take pride when you achieve it.

I am really excited about working there, it will be the perfect way to get me out of my "shell" [as Matt says] and be friendly and outgoing to people that I dont know and be excited about it.

On another note, I attended Mars Hill Church in Seattle on Sunday and was really happy with Driscoll's message. Odd, since it was about suffering, but I was encouraged because he was telling everyone to get the best out of their suffering. haha, make sense? It does to me, I've had my share.

my goal this year [like from now until next October] is to read at least 5 books. I prefer reading fiction, if I find a good fiction book I really like, I will finish it off in a few days. It is harder for me to read self-help/"better yourself" Christian books, although some of these can be pretty cool. It's just hard for me to stay focused. so if anyone has good suggestions of fiction books, please let me know!

Right now I am reading "Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan




I enjoy this book so far, but I am still less than half way into it. The first few chapters have been different stories of Chinese women of various ages and their families. The stories range from childhood memories, arranged marriages, a death of a mother, but all seem to be strung together through a transperant tragedy. Im not sure how these different stories will connect, or if they even will, but Im looking forward to reading further.

This book is particularly interesting to me because I have never read nor learned anything about Chinese culture. I dont really have any Chinese friends or knowledge thereof. From what I can gather the families are [or were at least in the past] strict [which I kind of already knew] and based upon respect and honor. All of the women were brought up to bring a good name to their families, even if their family had completley abandoned them and set them up for an unhappy life. It's very interesting to read stories which are almost the exact opposite of the culture I live in.

cultured is going to see live music.

cultured is getting involved in national and international movements.

cultured is knowing history by heart.

cultured is unframed art.

cultured is walking downtown instead of driving.

cultured is watching an entire show's series.

cultured is knowing what books/artists/music/shows are famous.

cultured is doing your part for the enviornment.

cultured is exploring different theologies/religions/philosophies

cultured is having a job that you love.

cultured is experimenting with new things.

cultured is taking risks that scare you.

cultured is traveling and doing as the romans do wherever you are.

cultured is dressing to impress EVERYONE at least once.

cultured is getting mad at injustice.

cultured is not being a cliche.

here is my list of my top 5 favorite "materialistic" things:

1. my camera. I have spent no time figuring out my camera since I got it in June, but I will someday... and I love being able to take as many pictures I want, it's amazing.

2. my computer. this puppy gets a lot of use, however, not my own.

3. my baby cell phone, sometimes I am SO thankful I have one of these.

4. my red shoes =)

5. my Product[RED] iPOD

to be honest, this list was really hard for me to make. I guess I dont really own anything HUGE and special to me... good thing or weird thing?

a while ago I watched this episode of Oprah where she talked about different things about happiness. she described her hairdresser of having "destination addiction", meaning he always focused on the future. 'Once I get this... once this happens... once I become this... THEN I'll be happy." I thought to myself, 'Crap, that is totally me'. And it is. I am constantly thinking about the future. [after you read this you're not allowed to read any of my old blogs because you will realize all I talk about is the future and it WILL be annoying] I REALLY dont want to be one of those people who's life passes them by because they are so fixed on future things they dont even live in the present. I am actually very afraid of this happening to me.

So, for the past couple days I have been trying extra hard on why TODAY is great. Here is a breakdown of my thoughts of today:

Today is great because I got to sleep in, yay! Today is great because I got to spend time with Mandy, who I love. Today is great because I spent a lot of good qaulity time with Makenna. Today is great because I had a latte, and it was wonderful [thanks Leah!] Today is great because it's warm and sunny outside and I got to soak up vitamin D. Today is great because I made over my blog page. Today is great because I worked out. Today is great because I ate a ton of vegetables. Today is great because I got to watch the Office. Today is great because Levi, Jody, and Jacob are here.

This is really helping me focus on the present, and being happy everyday, and not just about things that will happen in the future. Because eventually the future will be the present, and by that time I will probably have something else to focus on.

=)

I love going outside and knowing what season it is from the smell. some days I walk outside and think to myself, "It smells like school" or "it smells like snow."

I love driving down turner hill, feeling each groove in the road like it is a ripple in my own arm, from driving down it everyday for the past 16 years.

I love listening to people walking around the house, picturing where they are because of each crick and creak in the floor. Just like when I was little and I could hear the "wooden spoon drawer" opening and closing, when I knew I would get a spanking.

I love smelling a new soccer ball, the same smell of rubber as the masks we had in Hawaii. I love smelling a certain lotion, it takes me right back to going out with Matt a year ago.

I hate the smell of our Subaru, it reminds me of when we would go look for my dad.

and knowing that all of this, so carved into me, will all change very soon, makes me feel ready. knowing that these past 16 years that have created me are just a small portion of my life that I havent even made completley my own yet. knowing that soon I will have my own floors to embed, my own hills to memorize, and new smells to make new memories, makes me all the more excited.

The next pair of shoes I buy is definitley going to be a pair of TOMS SHOES.

For every pair of shoes you buy, one pair goes to a child in an impoverished country.

Their most recent goal is to drop 50,000 pairs of shoes in South Africa! In 24 days they will depart, but until then you can still add to the cause. [Of course you can still add after that, but maybe not to South Africa!]

Read the Shoe King's review here.

Last night Matt and I went out with some friends from Harambee. They had all gone swing dancing on Wednesday night at the Century Ballroom on Capitol Hill



Last night they were having an all ages swing night. This place does multiple types of dance nights, starting out with a short lesson beforehand.

Thanks to my brilliant suggestion we all ended up at Pagliacci's Pizza in the U district to pay a visit to Brian. This is the first time I had ever eaten there, and the pizza was amazing! Definitley makes it #1 on my list. Thanks Brian!

So back to swing dancing, it was a blast. Matt and I took our time getting the steps down and watching the 200 billion other couples to learn from everyone. Luckily, one of the guys in our group was actually pretty experienced and took a few dances with each of the girls so that we could pass on the knowledge to our partners. There were some totally incredible dancers there, it was so impressive! Whenever we took time sit down [like when the incredible hulk stepped on my foot, no, it wasnt matt] we got to enjoy watching the professionals.

This is something we will definitley be doing again, Matt and I have even been practicing at my house.

HEY MOLLY! I saw Emma there. she's actually good.

I got hired at Starbucks.

that's all I know so far.

"I just don't want to end up like Katie Couric. I want people to take me seriously."

-Rachel Smith [Miss USA]

[according to one of Couric's reps “If (Rachel Smith) continues to offer such profound insight, she will not have to worry about anyone taking her seriously.”]

even better- she said this at a Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network event.

the problem? this woman is Miss USA, seemingly, she is the ultimate "American Woman". I dont want to be represented like this!

This is also how I felt at "Rock of Ages" this past Saturday. I dont want to be represented like that either!

I strongly reccomend Radiant Magazine to any women out there.



It comes out quarterly [as in spring, summer, fall, and winter] and features a lot of MODERN, RELEVANT, and ALTERNITIVE articles and other things. The subconcious of the magazine is Christian, but not in a BRIO [did anyone else just gag?] kind of way. They offer reviews on movies, music, and books from all sides of the spectrum.

My favorite part of the recently released fall issue [featuring KT Tunstall on the cover] was a list of gifts to give at the holiday's that give to a cause. For example, bags that help Ugandan women support their families, soap that helps rebuild forests, and water bottles that give African's clean water. I will definitley be looking into these gifts come Christmas!