Weblog
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
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Birthday Party 21st Century Style
Jodie and Abby came up with the idea of having a birthday party for me even though I live 2,000 miles away, so we video Skyped it!
Mom with my nephew, Evan. Jodie is in the background.
Abby drew a map to my house. Notice that all roads lead to it. :)
Dad got in on the fun, and April, my brother's house guest, was still trying to figure it all out. 
My birthday cake (actually a cherry cordial ice cream cake- I APPROVE!) with Abby singing.
Abby and Evan blow out my candles.FUN DAY! Thanks, family, for making this birthday very fun!!
Currently
Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5
By Edward James Olmos, Jamie Bamber
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Saturday, 10 October 2009
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The Bump
I did a Starbucks survey this week and got a free tall coffee. While I was doing the survey, it asked my age by group. I realized it was the last time I would ever be able to click the 24-34 age category. This weekend would be the beginning of my life in 35-45 age category, and that felt like a HUGE bump.
So I guess I am living the life of a 35 year old nun, except that I'm Protestant and I don't beat my students with rulers. I have such freedom to serve God however He calls. Thirty-five finds me living in an adorable suburb of Los Angeles, teaching at a high performing but very urban school, leading a mentorship program for girls, working on my next opportunity to serve my favorite orphans in Colombia, geocaching, planning another trip to Costa Rica, occassionally singing and doing improv, in high levels of leadership at Mosaic, semi leading a robotics team, working toward my National Boards Certification in Teaching, still stargazing, creating Sacred Space prayer rooms on a regular basis, geeking out on LOST, Battlestar Galactica, Donald Miller, Arrested Development and Fringe, evaluating schools for accreditation, teaching a 6/5 (with no planning period) of Earth Science, riding my bike to school twice a week, still keeping up with friends from Cincinnati while hanging out in LA with filmmakers, assistant directors, artists, professional singers and dancers, walking an average of 12 miles a week, making movies, tending fish, living 20 minutes from the beach and going to Disney's California Adventure for my birthday.
Sure, there are some things on that list that are missing that I should probably be working on. I am a biological failure with no children running around, and I'm not even dating anyone to fix that. There are some rather intriguing individuals that are definitely potentials, but I'm in no rush, and neither are they. :) I don't own a home, not even a dog. I drive my tax people crazy because there is not much to write off. People ask me where I'll be in 5 years, and I honestly say, "Only God knows, I'm down for anything!"
Yeah, so life is really fun right now. The 35 thing is a little creepy, but most of the time I can't remember my age, and I sure as heck don't act it. Besides, spiritually this year I only turned 24.
Here's to another year of fun surprises.
Currently
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life
By Donald Miller
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Sunday, 04 October 2009
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It's OK...
Well, October 1st has come and gone and thanks to the grace of God and my generous parents, I have survived financially. My credit cards a bit bruised, but they can be repaired over time.
I now feel like one of those people who lived through the Depression...cringing when I have to pay a little more than usual (Jiffy Lube- if you haven't had it serviced since March, expect that it needs extra love), still reluctant to spend anything. I guess that is a good thing. The lingering fear of want pushes me toward better discipline.
Next Sunday is my birthday. I plan to explore California Adventure. It is the companion park to Disneyland, which I have been to 3 or 4 times. I have not ever been to California Advenure, so I am excited to be an explorer for a day.
I met Donald Miller (again) on Monday. My friend Susan Isaacs opens for him on his book tour. I am trying to figure out how to see them again before the tour ends in December, but they are on a tour bus in the midwest and I am definitely not there right now. We shall see....maybe when I fly back for Thanksgiving I can make a stop in a different city...
Currently
Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
By Anne Lamott
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Sunday, 06 September 2009
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new venture
I just realized that it is possible to blog from my phone. What took me so long?
My family checks my blog more than my Facebook, so I figure I best blog a bit more.
I watched Breakfast at Tiffany's this morning. I enjoyed it. I suppose there is something glamorous about being random, beautiful and drunk all the time. perhaps I've been missing out. :)
Saturday, 05 September 2009
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Life on a 10 month salary
Ugh. Does anyone in the world have this? I think I am in the only profession that pays on a 10 month salary. It is a new thing for me. It is killing me.
School started this week (and went very well, to be honest), but I've actually been at school for the last month getting ready. There is always lots of stuff to buy- paper, materials, laminating, candy... but after a month and a half of work, we won't get paid until October 1st.
I know, I know. I should save better. I should budget more. I should grow my own food. I should live in a tent. I should trap wild animals and eat them. But what happened last year is that I had a serious paycut in January that dropped my salary by about $12,000 after a 6 month period. Who can budget for THAT?
The bright side: it is giving me a chance to trust God for provision. It is giving me a chance to be blessed by others. It is humbling and everyone needs more of that. It helps me improve my begging skills at the Farmers' Market ("Are you going to throw that away? I'll take it for you!").
Alrighty. Off to hunt and gather the fat of the land of Uptown Whittier. Or not.
Currently
Ellipse (Bonus Track Version)
By Imogen Heap
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stinkowoman
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- Name: Doc
- Country: United States
- State: California
- Metro: Los Angeles
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 8/4/2003
