05.29.06

Well, Memorial Day weekend is winding down … time for a Xanga update.

It’s been a good weekend, starting Friday with FLOCK putt putt.  Saturday I pretty much was a hermit and worked on cleaning/organizing my apartment.  I took three huge garbage bags full of clothes and one full of shoes to the Hope Center.  I finally caught up on dishes … let’s just say I had some left over from a not so recent holiday.  Sunday was church, and then I made a decision that is haunting me to this very moment.  I layed out.

My arms are disproportionately tan in comparison to my legs, in desperate need of some evening out.  So, I SPF-ed up my arms, chest and back, but oiled up the legs.  I didn’t really think I was getting that burned until I got back inside and saw that I was already completely lobsteresque.  I quickly took a shower, knowing that in a few hours the same act would be torturous, and began to get ready for the big weekend highlight: the concert. 

I’ve been looking forward to seeing G. Love & Special Sauce for the past couple months now, as soon as I found out they were coming to Cain’s.  Their appeal is three fold: #1 – They’re friends with Jack Johnson.  They’ve appeared on a few of his albums, and on the Jack Johnson Austin City Limits episode I saw, Jack brought out G. Love to back him on a song.  #2 – The harmonica … what is it about boys with cool instruments?  #3 – The name … I mean who wouldn’t love a band called G. Love & Special Sauce?

So Lauren and I got there not too long after doors opened, and by this point, I was acutely aware of my sunburn.  There weren’t a ton of people there, no real need to stake out space on the floor yet, so we found a table and chatted until just before the opening act.  Our timing was perfect as we got up just before Intense came on.  We maneuvered right up to the second row.  Well, Intense was anything but intense.  A white rapper from Philadelphia with a Jew-fro (Is that a PC term?  If not, I sincerely apologize) with not much originality.  We stuck it out through his set, however, not wanting to give up our prime spots on the floor.  It was at this point that I was hit with what I like to call the sunburn sickness … that achy, chill-bumpy, cold, light headed feeling.  I was so frustrated … we were so close to the stage, I was so excited to see the band, and now I didn’t even know if I could stand up for five more minutes.  I told Lauren we had to at least try and make it through one song so I could get some up close pictures.

Crazy thing was, as soon as the band came out, I was fine.  I don’t know what it was, maybe adrenaline kicked in, but I stuck it out for about two thirds of the set before I started to feel sick again.  In that two thirds, however, I got some pretty great pics!

I even made a “friend” who took this picture. 

Earlier I asked her if she wanted me to take a picture of her and her friend with the band in the background.  (I often do this, because it is the way that I would want to be treated.  Whenever I see someone taking a picture of a group of people, I always ask them if they want me to take it so they can be in the picture.  This way I feel better about myself when I stop unsuspecting strangers and ask them to take pictures of me and my friends.)  Anyway, this benevolent gesture on my part must have won me favor in her eyes, because she proceeded to offer me pot.  Now I’m a pretty sheltered person, but I’ve seen a handful of people smoking marijuana in my day.  This was the first time, however, that anyone’s ever offered me any.  I suppose that 5th grade anti-drug education worked … I just said no.

Anyway, G. Love is an exceptional entertainer … the drive to Tulsa was totally worth it.  My only complaint is that he didn’t play Baby’s Got Sauce.  Now that’s a classic.  I did get to hear Cold Beverage and I-76, however.  We made it back around 2:00 AM, and I proceeded to fall into bed and sleep uncomfortably the rest of the night.  I had to miss the Paseo Arts Festival today as well as volleyball at church … there was just no way with the sunburn.  I got some Advil and aloe today, so hopefully tomorrow will be better.  Hope everyone had a great weekend … fun times minus the sunburn.

05.22.06

As promised, here are the bests and worsts of May-cation.

• BEST: Getting to watch two Survivor episodes with my mom, including the finale.
• WORST: Missing watching Survivor with Todd & Jeanna, the fact that they had a “cliffhanger” on Thursday, and that Aras and not Terry won.
• BEST: Actually getting some exercise while on vacation … running at Nelson Park.
• WORST: Sucking at running because I’m not used to doing it in the heat.
• BEST: Weekday lunch with my mom.
• BEST: Getting a Franklin Middle School t-shirt for my brother (the same shirt that I wore when I was in middle school) at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store for $1.00.
• BEST: Buying a $.50 pair of running shorts, a $5.00 pair of Polo jeans in excellent condition, and a $1.50 “Don’t Mess with Texas” t-shirt from Goodwill.  I plan to wear my shirt all over Oklahoma.
• BEST: Having a Body for Life free day in Abilene … yeah for Blizzards, China Star and Rick & Carolyn’s Burgers and Fries.
• WORST: Giving myself extended free days and the resulting weight gain-age.  Hey, it was vacation.
• BEST: A surprise visit from my favorite aunt and namesake.
• BEST: Getting to visit my grandparents and uncle.  With his ALS, it’s gotten almost impossible to communicate with my grandfather, but we all had some quality time together watching the Spurs play.
• WORST: The Mavs winning an incredibly close Game 3.
• BEST: Mother’s Day … although my present didn’t get there in time, we had a great time watching The Best of Designing Women on Monday.
• BEST/WORST: Quality time with my dad watching Game 4 … but then again, the Spurs lost.
• BEST: Much needed unlimited talk sessions with Stacey in Houston.
• BEST: Getting a guy’s perspective on some confusing situations.  That’s what friends’ husbands are good for.
• WORST: The price of gas in Houston.
• BEST: My future flower girl (no, I’m not engaged) Molly!  Oh my word, I love that girl.  She has made me actually believe I will love my own children someday.  I visited her when she was a few weeks old, then a few months old, at 12 months and again at 13, but this time, this little sixteen month old girl and I bonded.  She even said my name once … Rah-rah … I’m not yet as popular as Mo-mo (Elmo).  I have never met a better behaved child with as much personality as her.  I love Molly!

  

• BEST: Visiting The Woodlands, walking around the plaza area, and playing with Molly in the fountain.
• BEST: The Spurs winning Game 5!  Yeah, that’s what I did while Stacey and Randy watched Lost.
• BEST: Making a day trip to Galveston with my family of friends.  Fun beach times. 
• BEST: The Spurs winning Game 6!  Um, it’s really bizarre that I care at all … I am definitely not a basketball person.  I played in 7th grade and was on the C-team.  I can’t help it though; Jayme’s got me hooked!  I feel like the players and I are friends … they all have such great personality.  I actually listened to Game 6 on the radio driving back from Houston.  What is wrong with me?

I can’t complain … way more bests than worsts … a great May-cation.

05.21.06

I was fully intending for my next post to be about the bests and worsts of my May-cation (mostly bests), and I still fully intend to post them, but this afternoon I am compelled to choose another topic.

I love my church.  I could list a myriad of reasons, but this morning I felt especially thankful for my pastor.  I am blessed to hear week to week from such a learned yet humble shepherd.  This morning I felt like I was back in Hermeneutics, except this time rather than sitting in a classroom with twenty or so peers, I was in a sanctuary with maybe a thousand people, young and old, all walks of life, all hearing sound teaching about how to read and study the Bible.  What a novel idea, actually teaching people about context and literary forms and their implication for application! 

So I’m sitting there in my pew (actually it was a chair … sadly even my home church in Texas got rid of its pews in favor of plush chairs) agreeing wholeheartedly with the message, thinking that it was about time Joe-Schmo churchgoer heard this kind of thing, but not thinking about any personal implication.  That was until Dennis made a comment something like, “People ask me all the time how they can pray for me.  I tell them the greatest thing they can pray on my behalf is for discipline to be a faithful student of the Word.” 

And there was the personal implication.  I am incredibly privileged in regard to my exposure to Biblical knowledge.  I grew up in church, had close inquisitive relationships with both my youth minister and pastor uncle, went to a Christian university where my parents graciously allowed me to choose Biblical Languages as my major … plenty of exposure.  In a small group meeting last year, I was talking about my background/college major with the high school minister of my church, and he said something like, “So what do you do with a Biblical Languages major other than have super amazing quiet times?”  I explained my intentions to teach after getting a heck of a lot more education, but thought to myself, “You would think that, wouldn’t you?”  I mean, someone like me, with my upbringing and education, I should have super amazing quiet times.  I should be a diligent and faithful student of the Word.  I should be so much further along …

But I am lazy.  I rarely finish what I start.  I haven’t even read the entire Bible … the collection of books I view as my authority and nourishment, and I haven’t even read them all.  Looking at my life, I would have to say that the single most attacked area of my life is my spiritual growth through reading, studying, and applying Scripture.  More than any sin, I am continually defeated when it comes to integrating the Word into my schedule and life.  I have tasted and seen what God does in and through me when I am grounded in His Word, yet I inevitably fail to read, fail to seek.  It doesn’t make sense to me; I am full of questions, full of love for the Lord and His Word, and I genuinely find joy and answers and inevitably more questions whenever I read … it’s an incredible cycle.  Difficult yes, but exceedingly worth it.  So why do I stop?  Why do I choose anything else over that precious and necessary time?  While I am not one to claim the dismissive cliché of “the devil made me do it,” I am neither blind to the battle that wages for our mind, our devotion, our love.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand.  Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  AND PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL OCCASIONS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS.  WITH THIS IN MIND, BE ALERT AND ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING FOR ALL THE SAINTS.”  Ephesians 6:10-18

So on behalf of this saint, like Dennis, I ask that you pray for discipline that I might be a faithful student of the Word.

05.09.06

Just got the new “Relevant” in … just finished reading the cover article … just felt compelled to share a few quotes.

“I feel like the way that moral issues have been co-opted by a political party for nothing else but to develop a constituency whose votes they can depend on is really dangerous … I just want to get in that I feel like it is nearly impossible to walk a party line – especially in a two-party system – and follow Jesus.”

“I’m not interested in spiritually manipulating anyone.  God has already judged and punished Jesus for the fact that we don’t love people well.  That’s very good news, but it also calls us to be about the Lord’s business, which right now I believe is in Africa.”

05.05.06

Taking a break from move outs …

Actually, my job this week isn’t near as hard as that of my RAs’ … that is until this weekend when I do damage assessment.  Not so much looking forward to the inevitable resulting angry phonecalls. 

Let’s see, I have been neglecting Xanga these days.  Last Sunday was the Memorial Marathon relay.  I made it four miles before I had to walk, which is pretty dang good considering my lack of training.  One of my RAs ran on my relay team which was fun.  I think it inspired her to train for the whole thing next year.  If anyone can do it, she certainly can – Little Miss Discipline.  My leg consisted of running from Wilshire and Britton all the way to Lake Hefner and around a portion of the lake.  God bless Stacey for keeping my mind occupied with all her “landmark” chat.  Oh, and the random signs around the lake, one of which being, “What’s your favorite Seinfeld episode?”  Stacey’s was the one with the close talker and mine was the one in which George poses as a marine biologist.  That took up at least 5 minutes.  Anyway, I was really pleased with the run and the whole day in general.  I actually feel inspired to start running regularly again.  The next step is a Half Marathon that Stacey and I hope to run in California … the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half … live music at every mile! 

So I signed up a while back for Cain’s Ballroom to send me emails announcing what bands are playing there.  Awhile back I learned that Eisley was playing May 3rd, but I didn’t think a whole lot about it.  I knew one of their songs from 91 FM and  knew my friend Sydnie loved them, but that was about it.  On Wednesday morning, I heard “Marvelous Things” on the radio and remembered how much I liked the song, so I called Sydnie to see if she wanted to go.  She was going to think about it and get back to me, which just allowed me to look forward to it more, so when she told me she didn’t think she could go, I was a little disappointed.  Randomly enough, one of my RAs was up for it, so we had a little impromptu road trip … fun get-to-know-you-more time with Anna. 

The first opening band was okay, the second band was not so okay, and Eisley was excellent!  I recognized more songs than I thought I would.  To me they sound a little like Sixpence None the Richer, but maybe with a little more edge.  The band consists of four siblings and a friend; all play instruments and two of the sisters sing … beautiful pure harmony.  Poor Anna, she stood right beside these two guys blatantly smoking pot, basically blowing it all over her.  I mean, I know it’s Cain’s, but at an Eisley concert?  Oh, and my new favorite song is “Trolley Wood” … the last song of the night.  It sounded incredibly familiar, and then I realized that Sydnie sang it with a friend at a coffee shop in Bricktown awhile back. 

So I am in the process of making another Lost convert.  I went over to Todd and Jeanna’s to watch Survivor last night, and Todd surprised me with the latest issue of “Men’s Health.”  Who is on the cover smirking that ever so seductive smirk?  Sawyer!  (aka Josh Holloway)  I am in no way one of those girls that obsesses over famous actors or musicians.  Okay, I was a little obsessed with John Travolta in late middle school/early high school, and okay, I did write a letter to Jordan and Joey from New Kids on the Block, but other than that, I am totally obsession free!  I don’t know what it is about Sawyer, though.  I say Sawyer and not Josh, because I’m conviced it’s the character and not the actor I have a thing for.  Anyway, after perusing the magazine, I convinced Todd to start working through season one … thank you Randy’s M&Ms free non-new release movie Thursdays!  Ugh, I recently found out that season two doesn’t come out on DVD until October 3rd, which means I will have to record the beginning of season three to watch after I have watched the second season.  So complicated.

Well, five o’clock has rolled around.  Time to go get Ted’s for closedown dinner!